Over at OS he has an interesting post about Danny! taking on Balgozo. Seems like an interesting idea to me and not just from a partisan lets have the democrats attack each other viewpoint. The only problem with a Danny!/Lisa attack is that Balgozo could use it as an example of how the 'establishment' is out to get him.


OneMan

Thanks to everyone who linked to the Metabloic Screening Entry.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Obama gets early boost from voters: "The new poll, the first such survey by the Tribune since Ryan and Obama scored primary victories in March, shows Obama with a 22 percentage point lead over Ryan--52 percent to 30 percent. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points."

-- Ok I wish this were different. Two options.
A) Fold up the tent and cry
B) Work harder and figure out what needs to be done.

I think I will go with B

OneMan

The one fund the governor wants to raid that really worries me. The Metabolic Screening and Treatment Fund this fund is used to pay for this...

Beginning July 1, 2002, provide all newborns with expanded screening tests for the presence of genetic, endocrine, or other metabolic disorders, including phenylketonuria, galactosemia, hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, biotinidase deficiency, and sickling disorders, as well as other amino acid disorders, organic acid disorders, fatty acid oxidation disorders, and other abnormalities detectable through the use of a tandem mass
spectrometer.

Moneys shall be appropriated from such Fund to the Department of Public Health solely for the purposes of
providing metabolic screening, follow-up and treatment programs.

FYI -- The department of public health is authorized to charage a fee for the tests. It would appear the only money to go into this fund is from fees for testing.

-- Ok some disclosure here, Mrs. OneMan is a Nurse Practioner who works and see paitents in an Endocronolgy practice. The type of practice that helps children who have these problems. The early detection of these problems is crucal to preventing all sorts of as Mrs OneMan puts it 'Negative Outcomes' which is health care professional speak for bad stuff such as poor growth, mental imparment and all sorts of really scary stuff (trust me she told me the details and you do not want your kids to have it). Early detection can prevent or mitigate these 'Negative Outcomes' You can read about the first person who these test helped in Mass. here. To learn more about how early detection can help go here

So it appears that we charge people too much for the tests so instead of having a cushion or reducing the fee or using the extra money to expand testing and/or treatment ( both ideas are part of the enabiling act see the first link) lets instead take $3.45 million out and put it in the general revenue fund.

For shame Governor for shame. Someone (Pals at the Cross Blog, Obama fans this would be a good one for him) needs to stand up on this one and just say NO. The future of childrens health depends on it.

OneMan

I was able to get a list of the funds that Blagozo wants to trim I one post I am going to talk about several of them then in a different post I am going to talk about one in particular. This is a limited list of the funds....

What are the funds. They have generally been set up specifically in state law. With the thought that if they were overfunded their funds would not end up as general revenue funds but there would be funds intended for a specific purpose.

Farmer and Agribusiness Loan Guarantee Fund. He wants to take 2 Million out of this fund. As the link points out it is a fund that guarantees loans made to farmers and agribusiness so if there is 2 million less in funds that is 2 million less that can be offered up in loans.

The Securities Audit & Enforcement Fund: It was established in 1991 with fees on the security industry in order to fund investigations on the securities industry. He wants to take 17 million out of that one. Glad to see we feel comfortable that we will properly fund these investigations out of general revenue funds.

The Fire Prevention Fund, it is used to pay for firefighter training (PDF see page 4). and fire prevention activities. It also funds Arson investigations in Metro-East or at least it did. Over at CapitalFax Rich points out how Blagozo campaigned against this. They want to take $19.8 million out of this one, basically gutting it.

Department of Children and Family Services Training Fund: Deposits to this fund shall consist of federal financial
participation in foster care and adoption care training programs, public and unsolicited private grants and fees for such training, and royalties earned from the publication of materials owned by or licensed to the Department. In addition, with the approval of the Governor, the Department may transfer amounts not exceeding $2,000,000 in each fiscal year from the DCFS Children's Services Fund to the Department of Children and Family Services Training Fund. Again creating a non-general revenue bucket makes this harder to zero fund. Then again perhaps more training for those who protect our children is a bad idea. Lord knows DCFS has all the training they need and no-one ever screws up. They want to take $4 Million out of that.

The Downstate Public transportation Fund Reimbursements are made to transit operators for a percentage of their public transit operating expenses. Eligible participants are defined by the Downstate Public Transportation Act. Participants include mass transit districts and cities. They want to take $14.6 Million out of this one. I will spare you all the Governor of Chicago cracks.

The Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund (PDF) It appears at least some of this money is going to be used for tuckpointing. This is money from the tobacco settlement used for anti-smoking and public health programs. Why do that when you can make it into general revenue funds and spend it on other stuff. Like lottery billboards.

State Pensions Fund: Appears to be a bucket when unclaimed pension money goes. $67 Million.

In Balgozo world everthing is general revenue money

Blagozo is on Chicago Tonight as I write this. He sounds like he is running for office, not like a Governor who is in office.

Talking about his parents and how hard they worked, etc. I wish it was John Calloway asking him questions or even a panel instead of Bob Sirott. He is saying critisum is 'politically motivated'. He is now talking about Elvis. I kid you not...

He also just talked about 'consoldating state funds' I am about to blog about that. It replays on WTTW at Midnight so you can watch the whole thing.

Crains' has some scoop on state hiring.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is threatening to lay off 5,000 workers if he doesn't get his way on the state budget, but he has added nearly 1,900 people to the state payroll in the past five months, state records show.
Despite the governor's own hiring freeze on all but critical positions, his administration has hired a Spanish liaison for the Lottery, three people earning a combined $218,000 to improve "procurement efficiency" for the state's purchasing agency, and 29 people in the governor's own office.

"At least 53 percent of the new hires have been prison guards, welfare workers, state troopers and employees in other jobs easily identifiable as providing direct services positions Blagojevich promised to fill despite multibillion-dollar budget deficits the past two years. "

-- Hey a Spanish liaison for the lottery is critical you want to get more money out of people who speak Spanish. The increase in film office spending makes sense since we are subisdising the film industry in this state with tax breaks. Lord knows making Oceans 12 produces more real jobs in this state than having another 8,000 trucks registered here.

Oh, is it much easier to raise money if California if you have the film subsidy and is that why it is a year to year thing? Blagozo wouldn't do that would he?

The Cross People are looking for some Interners, Spend the summer or Fall helping to save the State from Blago...

"Internships are unpaid positions. We have openings beginning in June of 2004. We also have a Fall Internship Program.

Please forward your resume, cover letter, geographic preference, and a letter of reference to Amanda Peters, Assistant Director of Internet Outreach.

You can email it to interns@joincross.com."

--OneMan

The actual article from the Chicago Tribune on the latest Blago poll.

"Only a little more than one-third of Downstate voters said they approved of the job he has done as governor, while half disapproved. 'I just know that he said a lot of things that he's not following through on,' said Howard Yates, a retiree in Wyoming, Ill., who opposes higher taxes on the trucking industry that Blagojevich imposed last year.

As Blagojevich feuds with leaders of his own party, only 52 percent of voters who identified themselves as Democrats said they were satisfied with his job performance. In the February survey, two-thirds of Democrats were supportive of Blagojevich.

Blagojevich also has lost significant backing from female voters. In February, 57 percent of female voters approved of his job performance. Now only 37 percent do, while a like number say they are dissatisfied with the governor."

-- The 1/3rd approval downstate is what should really have him worried. He managed to convince people he was not going to be a Chicago governor it looks like they think he is not living up to that. Also the lower approval among women than men is a bit of a surprise as well. Archpundit says that democrats should go after Blago, I disagree I think he has a long memory and will try and screw over anyone who crosses him.

OneMan

Blago arugues he is not confused about his baseball loyalties. Here are some snipits.

Politicians may flip-flop on some issues, but Gov. Rod Blagojevich insisted Thursday that he has never wavered in his loyalty to the Chicago Cubs.
...
Blagojevich said he was simply being polite when he wore a White Sox jacket while throwing out the first pitch on opening day at a Sox game last year. And he said that telling a southern Illinois crowd "I'm a Cardinals fan" was a joking response to the region's strong support for him in the 2002 Democratic primary.

The governor's impassioned defense of his baseball loyalty came in response to questions about a story in Thursday's (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald, which cited a column published under his name in The Sporting News this month. The "My Turn" column says he "bleeds Cubby blue - and wouldn't wear a White Sox cap even if they made the World Series."

Even as he defended his Cubs credentials, Blagojevich took issue with parts of the Sporting News piece.

"I didn't write that column," Blagojevich said Thursday. "The guy who interviewed me wrote that. He interviewed me and then he put the substance of what I said in the column."
....

Blagojevich said he did not realize his interview would be turned into a first-person column.

But the magazine's staff said Blagojevich's office approached them about doing the piece. "My Turn" is a regular feature.

"Though it's true Gov. Blagojevich's column was ghostwritten, as is routine in our industry, the version that appeared in The Sporting News was approved by the governor's staff," Executive Editor Bob Hille said in a statement. "We stand by the column as written."

.....

Normally calm in his public appearances, Blagojevich was clearly irritated that his Cubs devotion was being questioned. He even took a jab at politicians who avoid taking a clear stand on sports.

"If you hear Sen. (Dick) Durbin, he's Cubs, he's Sox and the Cardinals," Blagojevich said. "I'm a Cubs fan."


--- In this you have classic Blago.

1) Hey they misunderstood, that's not what I meant......
2) Thats not what I thought was going on I was misslead (even tho' his staff reviewed the piece)
3) Look at someone else who is worse (Durbin)

OneMan

Approval Ratings for Blagojevich Drop Sharply, Chicago Tribune/WGN-TV Poll:

"CHICAGO, May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Following months of bitter fighting with a wide range of political and institutional opponents, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is seeing a steep decline in his job approval ratings, according to a poll conducted by Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV. Complete poll results appear in the Friday, May 28, edition of the Chicago Tribune and online at http://chicagotribune.com .

Only 40 percent of Illinois voters think Blagojevich is doing a good job, compared with a 55 percent job approval rating as recently as February. On the flip side, 36 percent of survey respondents expressed disapproval with his performance, compared with 27 percent in February."

-- I suspect he is going to have another press conference. Just wait until the state shuts down or he keeps talking that smack and see how low his numbers go. I would strongly recommend he get his head out of hiney before it is too late. I don't want to see him completely implode for at least another year, he is tanking too early...

In his column Bernard Schoenburg has some thoughts about why Blago might just shut the state down. Basically because he thinks everyone who works for the state besides him is lazy.

It also has this interesting fact.

The U.S. Census reported that, as of 2000 - before thousands of job reductions - Illinois ranked 50th in the number of state workers per capita."

-- I really suggest you follow the link, it is an interesting column and the State Journal Register has it's finger on stuff like this better than any other paper in the state. Over at Archpudit he has a take on it as well.

My thought is that the Governor has figured out that they way to higher office as a Democrat is going to be as a cut government guy and the thing he wants to cut is people. They are expensive and no one notices they are gone until it is too late. This is all about a logical plan for him to run for higher office. He realizes he can portray himself as the guy who stood up to the unions who supported him as well as business as defender of the little guy. He thinks in order to be successful he needs to pick demons, first is was the State Legislature and now it is going to be lazy do-nothing state employees.

It can be called governing by 'I rock, they suck'.

People complain all the time about the things government employees do that we would never give a second thought about if we saw a co-worker in the private sector do the same thing. Last time I checked I haven't seen Pam Zeckman follow around a Starbucks employee who was goofing off one day on the clock. Government workers or even government programs are not the problem here, the problem here is a politically motivated agedna of spending that can not be met by current revenues without cutting stuff that is not politically popular or handy.

Mark my words if this plays out with a government shutdown the funk is going to stick to all sorts of people, including Barack Obama. Do yourself and your state a favor go give to John Cross so we can bring some sanity to this mess. Tell em OneMan sent ya.

OneMan

Burke questions salaries of MacArthur executives: "Ald. Edward M. Burke wants the state attorney general's office to investigate the executive salaries, perks and expenses at the MacArthur Foundation and will start holding public hearings on Chicago's largest charity next month."

Hey it's not like they were getting free insurance or something. I am surprised I didn't read about this in Sneed since she can't go more than two weeks without mentioning the Burkes. What business is it of the city of Chicago what a large non-profit does, that is a state issue let Lisa Madigan deal with it.

Then again hearings on greed when Segal is on trial may not be a bad thing.

OneMan

The Daily Herald reminds me why I am glad I am a Sox fan.

"- He's a blue-blooded Cubs fan who 'wouldn't wear a White Sox cap even if they made the World Series.'
Yet he wore a Sox jacket and threw out the Opening Day pitch last year.
Before that, he told a suburban St. Louis audience that he'd converted to being a Cardinals fan.
Exactly where Gov. Rod Blagojevich's sports allegiances lie seems to depend on where he happens to be at that moment in his political career. The inconsistencies came to a head in the May 17 edition of Sporting News magazine, where a column penned by Blagojevich appeared."

-- If the guy can't pick a baseball team no wonder he can't get a budget passed.

Crains shares a little Dem on Dem Love:

"Blagojevich also is ordering state agencies to prepare contingency plans for delivering services if a new budget is not passed before the old one expires July 1 - a move seen by some as a signal that he is willing to let the impasse continue until he gets what he wants.
'I think it's absolutely irresponsible. But since when has responsibility been one of his strong suits?' said Sen. Denny Jacobs, D-East Moline. " Bolding Mine...

-- Now having great looking hair and having press conferences in Chicago, those are strong suits....

If you don't figure it out before the 1st, then you are going to need 60% of the votes in each house to approve anything. The GOP is going to have to use this opportunity to prove they are not go along to get along guys.

If the state starts shutting down people are going to do three things.
A) Blame Blago
B) Make it likely that the GOP is going to get some seats back in Springfield
C) Assoicate the shutdown with Obama.

So on behalf of Republicans governor please feel free to demand that your budget is the only way to go.

OneMan

Turns out that members of the state house did not like HB 848 amendment 1 nearly as much as the senate and Obama did. The house voted 23-81-14 against (PDF) the amendment and therefore the bill.

This also serves as a reminder to Blago that Madigan is in charge of the House.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

OneMan

Sneed talks Catholic Theology:

"I'm a Catholic in shock. Cardinal Francis George's decision to deny communion to gay and lesbian supporters (the Rainbow Sash Movement) wearing a rainbow colored sash (He claims it indicates disagreement with church teaching) is . . . outrageous! Denying the Eucharist to Catholics who want to be acknowledged as gay and lesbian people? What is the cardinal thinking?
What's he going to do . . . excommunicate priests who give the communion this Sunday?
This is more than a slippery slope.
This has to be wrong."

-- From Raindow Sash Movement web site
The Rainbow Sash Movement is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender Catholics, with their families and friends, who are publicly calling the Catholic Church to conversion of heart around issues of human sexuality.

Yeah Mike because the Catholic Church has always been real friendly to people who want to change something in their core beliefs, just ask Martin Luther. What I suspect the 'cardinal is thinking' is that mass is not the place for this sort of 'statement'. Then again I am not Catholic so this isn't really my fight.

OneMan

Daily Herald:
"Mothers would be guaranteed the right to breast-feed in public and private places under a proposal passed Tuesday by the Illinois legislature."

"The plan now goes to Gov. Rod Blagojevich for his signature or veto. A spokeswoman for Blagojevich said the legislation is being reviewed and a decision hasn't yet been made."

-- I remember how people jumped on Chris Lauzen for being the only No vote on this in the senate, here is his response. SB3211 also had two no votes in the house. One of the co-sponsors was Sen. Obama. So if Blago ends up vetoing it (unlikely but then again who knows it is being reviewed) will Obama speak out against the governor?

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Governor plans for shutdown: "Meanwhile, human service providers this week are complaining that the administration is using the threat of budget cuts to muscle them into supporting his controversial proposals to increase business fees and reduce corporate tax breaks.

Providers say Illinois Department of Human Services employees have asked them to lobby for the governor's budget plans. Other agencies also have asked social service providers to stand up on the governor's behalf.

They are being asked, they say, to serve as references for Blagojevich at a time when many of them are worried about whether their state contracts will be renewed--and on what terms.

'I think from the providers' standpoint, it is looked upon as pressure,' said Frank Anselmo, head of the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association, which represents community substance-abuse treatment and mental-health providers. 'I think people feel there could be retribution if they say no.'"

-- I am sure the Governor is completely unaware of this, just like he is unaware of anything else that would make someone ask questions. Be it billboards or whatever...

OneMan

Let me get this right, on a tax bill (HB 848) Obama votes against (pdf) first and only senate Admendment along with such other notables as Lauzen and Petka. However then voted yeah (pdf) on the bill.

Interesting

OneMan

Pantagraph.com - News - Panel recrafts tax on private boat sales 05/25/04: " Illinois lawmakers retooled another piece of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget proposal Monday, setting a limit on what qualifies as a 'yacht' when it comes to charging sales taxes on boats.
The Senate Executive Committee voted in favor of placing a $10,000 threshold on private boat sales that would be subject to a 6.25 percent sales tax.
An original version of the measure, approved in a Senate committee last week, would have made the tax apply to all boat sales -- no matter how small the sale."

-- Yep over 10K definitly a yacht. Also the way the law seems to be written it would appear that you sell it for $9,999 no tax $10,000 then $625 worth of taxes. No that is not going to be an issue at all.

I would love to find out how much this reduces the amount it was going to raise. Then again he can still call it a yacht tax.

OneMan

Lawmakers OK protection for homeowners who shoot intruders: "Under the bill now headed to the governor, someone who shoots an intruder on his or her property couldn't be convicted of violating a local gun ban. The bill would not prevent state charges if prosecutors believed the shooter committed a crime.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised to veto the measure if lawmakers approved it, but the House and Senate passed it by large enough majorities to override a veto. Tuesday's Senate vote was 41-16.
Blagojevich still intends to veto the bill, said spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch."

-- This is going to play well south of I-80 or as Blago knows it... Where? Nothing like issuing a veto on a gun bill that most people would agree with. This isn't concealed carry.

OneMan

CNN.com - Tom Clancy wrestles with Iraq war - May 25, 2004: "A brand name author with many admirers in the military criticized the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, citing it as proof that 'good men make mistakes.'
That same writer said he almost 'came to blows' with a leading war supporter, former Pentagon adviser Richard Perle.
The author is Tom Clancy."

then a little bit later in the same story

Clancy recalled a prewar encounter in Washington during which he "almost came to blows" with Richard Perle, a Pentagon adviser at the time and a longtime advocate of the invasion.

"He was saying how (Secretary of State) Colin Powell was being a wuss because he was overly concerned with the lives of the troops," Clancy said. "And I said, 'Look ..., he's supposed to think that way!' And Perle didn't agree with me on that. People like that worry me."

--- Let me get this right Perle who best I can tell from his Bio never spent 30 seconds in the military was calling Colin Powell a wuss. Dude you couldn't carry Colin Powells' manhood jockstra...

I would be willing to bet that Richard Perle never wrote a letter to parent after someone serving under him was killed. Until you have to deal with that Poindexter I suggest you keep your yap shut about someone being 'overly concerned with the lives of troops'.

Sorry I will get back to ranting about stuff in the state in a minute.... I just saw this and it really ticked me off.

OneMan

Crains provides some fine whine from a Blago spokesperson.

"The Blagojevich spokeswoman said Mr. Whitley and the chamber 'have gone out of their way to paint this governor as anti-business . . . They are fighting to keep loopholes in place for big, multistate corporations that don't pay any taxes in Illinois. . . They don't represent the small business of Illinois.' "

-- Last time I checked both large and small business buy fuel for forklifts and other equipment that uses fuel that is not driven on roads (he wants to tax that), both large and small business register trucks (8,000 fewer this year than last). Both small and large business depreciation equipment, lots of small companies buy and sell custom software.

All sorts of his tax increases will impact small business as well as large companies. He has made business the hobgoblin of every problem in this state. I got news for you, people drive those trucks that are no longer registered they just are registered in other states and may be driven by people who live in other states. It is going to be easier for large companies to move operations and take other actions to avoid these taxes than it will be for small companies.

OneMan

Ok, Really off the subject for a minute. Does anyone else have a problem with Channel 11/WTTW on DirectTV after about 7:00 PM with the singal getting bad and the picture fading out/getting dark, ghosting, Etc... If you have or don't have issues could you drop me an e-mail or just leave a comment.

Thanks
OneMan

A couple of thoughts out of RandomActofKindness, first he has a wise take on the Obama stalking thing.

Secondly I have to agree with him on his point on how hard it is for third party candiates to get on the ballot in this state. In particular the tweak being made to election law to let George Bush on the ballot. The same tweak that may make it easier for John Kerry to 'wait' to accept the Democratic party nod so he can spend more money.

OneMan

Hunter Introduces "The Parents' Empowerment Act":

"Specifically, the Parents' Empowerment Act allows parents or legal guardians of a minor to sue, in a district court, any person who knowingly sells or distributes a product that contains material that is harmful to minors. Violators will be held liable for a minimum of $10,000 for each instance of damaging material. "

....
This modification will allow courts to determine if questionable material lacks "serious literary, artistic, political and scientific value for minors."

-- Yes he is a Republican.

I don't need nor do I want the right or ability to sue someone because one of my kids sees a nipple on TV or the internet. It is my responsibility to keep that material away from my kids, I don't need the right to sue people over what my kids see.

So if my son happens to tune to HBO at the wrong moment I can sue HBO, if my son flips open a Playboy I can get 10K....No thank you.

OneMan

Crains has some scoop from Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn Adams:

"'Adults who encounter (the billboard) are fascinated by the movement and usually wait to see what the next message will be,' Ms. Adams said in a written statement. "

Ms. Adams, appointed by Gov. Blagojevich last year, said in an interview she wasn't aware of Mark IV's campaign contributions, but wouldn't say whether she'd discussed the billboard with members of Mr. Blagojevich's staff. A spokeswoman for Mr. Blagojevich said that the governor's office had no part in the billboard decision.

-- Ok, first it appears the lottery is targeting people who are fascinated by movement. That's sounds about right in terms of a target market. Of course kids are replused by the movement and will not look at it at all.

Secondly: Lets Play Guess the real meaning

She wouldn't say if she discussed the billboard with members of Mr. Blagojevich's staff... So I guess

A) She felt it wasn't nessesary for the reporter to know
B)She did not recall
C)She wanted to make sure she didn't contradict what the Blagojevich admistration was going to say...

If the administration was not involved then why not just say so? Nothing to see here, move along

OneMan

Gov denies role in shifting lottery ad to donor: "'I know nothing about the decision,' the governor said Sunday."

-- Of Course not..What was I thinking. I am sure that spending about as much so less people and people in only one part of the state who dirve on one road see the ads is logical.

Just a logical example of how this government is taking on the governor's attitude of 'People outside of Chicago, that's crazy talk'.

OneMan

From the Trib `No-growth' budget gets thumbs down:

"Before legislators resume down-to-the-wire state budget negotiations this week, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Senate President Emil Jones called Sunday for the rejection of one fiscal fix: adopting a 'no-growth budget.'

Flanked in the South Shore's La Rabida Children's Hospital by a crowd that included several state legislators and a badly burned boy who receives treatment there, the two Democratic leaders said a no-growth budget would prune or prevent the expansion of popular health-care and other social programs."

-- You know I would like to expand my popular 'Get a New Deck' and 'Get a big screen TV' programs however I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO SO. Yes new programs and expanded programs may be nice and helpful but you need to be able to PAY FOR THEM!

Also nice use of sick kids as props on that one Blago.

OneMan

Zorn writes about how he wants the word Family back from the conservative groups that use it.

"So it's time we took it back.

Sorry, Family PAC and Illinois Family Institute.

You, too, Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, Family Foundation, Pro-Family Network, American Family Associationand Culture and Family Institute."

Focus on the family: Founded 1977, Family Research Council: Founded 1992, Family Foundation: Founded 1985, Pro-Family Network: Founded 1996, American Family Association: Founded 1977.

So at least for some of these groups they have been around when most people would first noticed changes to what had been the traditional definition of family in the country. At least some of these groups started just as the traditional definition family began to change in this country. So it is understandable that groups would have formed to work to moderate or prevent this change.

If you want a different viewpoint on Focus on the Family,
Family Research Council follow the links to what People for the American Way.


-- Ok here is the original version of my post I had a diferent thought to start with


"'Family values' has come to mean the promotion of abstinence-only sex education, religion in the public sphere, education vouchers, traditional gender roles and censorship. It's come to mean opposition to abortion rights and, particularly these days, resistance to the extension of full civil rights to gays and lesbians."

-- OK, first I would argue that the idea of a family being one man and one woman who had only had 'relations' with each other was the definition of family for most of the last 2000 years. You can argue that social standards have changed the last 50 years or so and therefore these ideas are no longer realistic. Howeve big chunks of what these groups push for are still bascially good ideas. Abstinence Education: I know Zorn has written about this to a large extent and I guess I have a different viewpoint on it. I feel the world is a better place if people started and stayed in monogomous relationships in their lives, would we have the spread of AIDS in Africa like we do? VD so prevelant in our country that the drugs to treat it are advertised on TV.

Censorship? All sorts of people on various sides of the poltical spectrum have written about the 'stuff' that is on broadcast TV these days. Is it really better now that on broadcast TV I can see stuff that was unthinkable 40 years ago. Shows like the swan, etc. If a group works via legal means to stop something that is what America is all about if you disagree with them you then can work using legal means to accomplish a different goal.

The compalints about Relgion in the public sphere have spread from reasonable concerns about the state sponsership and/or support of a given religous group to the desire to eliminate all mention or thought about God in the public sphere.

The definition of 'full civil rights' to gays and lesbians? Most of the 'rights' no granted to gays and lesbians would have been unthinkable even 20 years ago, marrage? Domestic Partner health insurance? Gays and lesbians adopting? Now all part of our landscape. It's appears if you disagree with any of these you are a closed minded religous zelot, not just someone who has a different viewpoint. Again even abortion 40 years ago the idea a teenager could go into a drugstore and get 'morning after' pills would have been out of the relam of posibility.

If you want the word family to represnt something else then work and take a steps to make the meaning of the word fit your definition of it.

I have of some words I would like back....
First would be progressive. I fail to understand why liberal groups and entities seem to have some sort of devine right to idea that only their ideas are progressive. I would argue ideas such as school vouchers and the flat tax are rather progressive.

More to come....

OneMan

Hey here is a great idea, lets spend almost as much money as we do on 15 billboards across the state to advertise the lottery and instead spend almost as much to advertise on a single billboard that is all fancy and electronic and is seen by only half as many people as the old 15. Also why in the heck advertise downstate anyway it's not like anyone lives there in Blago world.

Turns out the owner of the new billboard donated 90K worth of billboard advertising to the Balgo campaign.

Nothing to see here, move along.

OneMan

From Progressive Illinois: some selective facts to make his point.

"Ryan's top corporate contributor, meanwhile, is Goldman Sachs, who so far has chipped in over $120,000. Goldman Sachs, a global investment banking and securities firm, probably isn't thrilled with Obama's views on NAFTA and free trade, and has no qualms throwing a six-figure donation Jack's way. "

-- Ummm if you follow the link you provide you might notice the disclamer in on the same page...

The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families.

-- Then again that gets in the way of your point about how Obama's view on NAFTA, free trade, etc..

Then again in 2000 the Goldman Sachs PAC gave 9,950 dollars to John Corzine and he raised $580,870 dollars from Goldman Sachs. So therefore John Corzine must be a Pro-NAFTA, pro free trade right wing nut. Oh wait, that's right he is a Democrat and he makes the amount Jack Ryan spent out of his own pocket look like chump change.

That's the downside of links, it only takes a few clicks to find even more information

OneMan

Some fun from the leader


Here is the post in the forum

Message by NUGOP on 21 May 2004 at 2:54 pm - IP: 68.20.206.142
Location: United States Joined: 21 May 2004 Posts: 1 Profile Search Quote
Two points. First, as Illinois Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson said, "I don't care if you're in public life or who you are, you deserve your space and privacy." I enjoy my privacy just like the next guy, and I think that everyone should be able to enjoy that right equally. Second, this controversy of video tapping is bad not only for Ryan' campaign but Republicans in general. It detracts from our message of small government, tax breaks, and social issues. In a close election year we should not waste time defending pointless and potentially damaging political tactics when we need to gain the support of swing voters who might be turned off from our platform by such antics.


Note: I bolded the IP above and in a moment you will see why (Someone in the forum figured this out, not me)


Now lets do a whois lookup on 68.20.206.142

Hey looky here....


Search results for: 68.20.206.142

Ameritech Electronic Commerce NET-AMER-682000 (NET-68-20-0-0-1)
68.20.0.0 - 68.23.255.255
Obama For Illinois SBC068020206136030717 (NET-68-20-206-136-1)
68.20.206.136 - 68.20.206.143

# ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2004-05-20 19:15
# Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN's WHOIS database.

Interesting that Pro-Obama posts on a message board for Conservative Republican's has a posting that seems to indicate an IP from the Obama campaign. Not a big deal in fact if it wasn't for the fact the leader posts IP's a rather smart idea. Again IPs can be spoofed and I don't have access to the server logs so it is possible someone is trying to pull a fast one, I find it very unlikely however.

However
As I read the messages over the Obama Blog about how the Establishment must fear Obama, "It's amazing how low they can sink,It seems like the higher we are the lower they go". Yada, Yada, Yada.

It obvious that is must be a stunt by the Illinois Leader, Republican Hackers, etc. since no member of the Dean Dozen or a supporter or staffer would ever do something like this.

HELLO Dean-Heads, this is a state where we joke (as well as the rest of the nation) about the dead voting in Chicago. I got news for ya, if the dead vote in Chicago they are not voting Repbulican.

That's right it's ALL a vast right wing conspiracy. Hahahaha

OneMan

Election 2004 Illinois: "ty-one percent (51%) have a favorable opinion of Ryan while 36% hold an unfavorable view. For Obama, those numbers are 48% favorable and 37% unfavorable.
Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) is viewed favorably by 47% of voters and unfavorably by 49%."

-- Is a major budget showdown going to cause Obama's negatives to rise? If the state shuts down and/or a bunch of people get laid off from the he state will Obama take the heat. Is the negative perception that Blago has been pushing on the state house and senate going to hurt Obama significantly, at all?

OneMan

Some thoughts on the gov from a Chicago Alderman:

"'He's a one-termer. He's alienated everybody. . .. All he is is mouth, mouth, mouth,' said Ald. William Beavers (7th), chairman of the City Council's Budget Committee."

-- I would have to disagree he is only 80% mouth 10% polls and 10% hair.

High court overrules governor:

"The adverse economic conditions facing so many of our fellow citizens have taken an inevitable toll on the state's treasury,' Rarick wrote. 'We do not mean to diminish the seriousness of the situation or appear insensitive . . . [but] no principle of law permits us to suspend constitutional requirements for economic reasons, no matter how compelling those reasons might seem.'

Blagojevich mocked the ruling: 'It helps to have the home field advantage, doesn't it? They decided on their own pay raises. They shouldn't get a pay raise during these difficult times. It sends all the wrong signals.' The ruling will cost the state $13 million that will have to be cut from some other part of the budget, he said.
The state's Constitution shields judges from the budget knife so they don't feel pressure to rule for state officials. "

-- Yeah don't you just hate it when the state Constitution gets in your way, be it with the Board of Ed, judicial pay raises or the fact that there is a State House and a State Senate. You are a governor not a dictator.
A majority of the judges on the state high court are Democrats and they even felt it was a better idea to follow the state Constitution that submit to your will, so it is now obvious what you must do. Propose that the Governor appoint all judges every year.

It's really a budget about Nothing:

Blagojevich proposed taking money from the funds, which support everything from anti-pollution programs to school technology to food safety, after holding his first major budget discussion with the four legislative leaders.

"At least two leaders-- House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, and Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville-- are raising the possibility of freezing the state budget at last year's spending level.
They argue that there is no agreement on how to come up with more money, so the responsible thing might be to hold spending flat instead of increasing it by $911 million as Blagojevich has proposed.
Blagojevich ridiculed that idea as 'a do-nothing budget.' He said it would mean schools would get no new money and 150,000 poor people could see their medical care cut back."

-- First: The idea that the House Speaker and Senate Minority Leader agree on a budget idea is a sign that things are getting strange down in Springfield.
Secondly: Not spending more money is not a 'do-nothing' budget. I could go for the cheap shot right now about Democrats and expanding government but that would be too easy.
Thrid: You know at this point Rod, why not just treat every single dollar the state has as general revenue funds. Sell every asset and lease it back so you can spend even more.

Chicago Tribune | Shadow keeps eye on Obama: "SPRINGFIELD -- Even though he is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, state Sen. Barack Obama is getting a closer following than he would like these days.

In the state Capitol for the end of the spring legislative session, the Chicago Democrat has found himself dogged by an in-your-face, video camera-toting campaign aide to Republican opponent Jack Ryan."

-- Whaaa, I have someone following me in public spaces as I do my job as a public official. This happens all the time in the bigs and it makes real sense to do it right now with all of this budget stuff going on.

Obama refers to the guy following him as a stalker, if a Republican had made that statement the anti-stalking groups would be all over him for 'trivializing' the very scary problem of stalking.

OneMan

First thanks to the Cross Blog for shout out and they are right about the spelling. Also thanks to Archpundit for covering my 6 on the spelling thing.

Welcome new readers and thanks.

OneMan

Top lawmakers eye budget freeze: "If you don't pass the tax increases, where do you go?' Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said. 'I think the obvious and logical choice is you look at a level funding plan, and you work with the revenue you have.'"

-- Let see if I have this right? Someone is proposing that since the state is having money problems we don't increase state spending? Wow what a radical idea, keeping spending in line with revenue. No one says government has to grow...

So unless they approve his screct plan he is going to let people go?

"Escalating a game of chicken over the state budget, aides to Gov. Rod Blagojevich warned on Thursday that he might lay off thousands of government employees if lawmakers don't approve his proposed budget."

-- And then he is going to hold his breath until he turns blue and then you will all miss him.

Perhaps UIC or Northeastern IL (both in the city) should rename themselves Jones U:


"But tucked inside the legislation is language that would amount to a windfall for Chicago State University, which counts Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) as an honorary alumni and has named a building on its campus after him.
Under a deal Jones cut last year, the university was to have gotten a 2 percent cut of 'adjusted gross receipts' from a proposed Rosemont casino -- a perk once valued at as much as $8 million a year."

-- Will someone explain this to me?

Eric Zorn explains how the 'Yacht tax' is going to end up taxing the private sale of a lot more bass boats than yachts.

He goes into most of the issues people have with the change. Hard to enforce, will not meet the revenue numbers Blago is saying it will, etc.

But the 'Bass Boat' tax doesn't make it sound like rich guys are avoiding taxes...

OneMan

More from SneedA Ms. Mell memo . . .: "Neighbors were whispering that Gov. Blago's garage sale at his Ravenswood Manor house Sunday was partly run by 'staff' of the Guv. Not so, said Blago's press secretary Cheryle Jackson. State trooper security was there, but not staff. Oh, well. Proceeds from the basement and garage 'junk' are going to charity. And if a state trooper lent a helping hand, so what?"

-- So what, my tax dollars pay that guy trooper to protect the family not help out at the garage sale. That's what.

From Crains

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich insisted Tuesday that he has a plan to plug hundreds of millions of dollars worth of holes in his proposed budget, but he refused to say what that plan is"

-- Yeah, no sense letting people think about it and talk about it. What a dork.

Chicago Mayor Mocks Illinois Governor. Joint the club Rich...

Barak wants to train more
teachers:

"Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama says one way to further the legacy of the Supreme Court's Brown versus Board of Education ruling is to ensure that schools have equally qualified teachers. Obama was on the northwest side outlining his ideas for achieving that."

--- Ummm, don't we have a whole bunch of schools that already teach people how to teach. If you want to give people free education to teach why not do it using the current infrastructure instead of creating 'new' schools.

I have some other issues with this idea. Do we really want teachers who have gone into the field because they got to go to school for free. Do you want teachers who are teaching at a given school because the 'have to' due to a contractual situation? Do we want teachers that come out of 'one system' run by the federal government?

This free education for teachers stuff sound nice, it even sounded nice when Charley brought it up on The West Wing.

Again the High School district I attendee take a look at it's report card (PDF).

% of Teachers with at least a Masters: Above the state average
Average Teacher Salary: Above the state average
Average Teacher Experience: Above the state average
Instructional Expenditure per pupil Above the state average (over 2K over the average)

ACT Score last grad. class Below the state average
OVERALL PERFORMANCE - ALL STATE TESTS Below the state average
PRAIRIE STATE ACHIEVEMENT EXAMINATION (PSAE) PERFORMANCE Below the state average

So that district has better educated, better paid teachers and the students are performing below the state average.

The answer to failing schools is choice. We have spent significant resources 'improving' teacher education as well as setting higher requirements for teachers. It appears not to have helped.

Edwards Emerging As First Choice:
"Yet more long-shot potential contenders reportedly include: Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Louisiana Sen. John Breaux, Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen, North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, ex-Vermont Gov. and former frontrunner Howard Dean, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin"

-- You make Blago your VP I might even vote for you just to get rid of him....

OneMan

Hey Kids it's the Barack Obama 2004 Campaign Weblog. It appears to be from some of the same people who were involved with the Howard Dean adventure. It will be interesting to see how it plays on this level.

The folks that I know of who are behind this are rather smart guys so it's going to be fun to read.

OneMan

Is that some pork I smell.

"Republican lawmakers charged Monday that Gov. Rod Blagojevich engaged in the old-style, pork-barrel politics he publicly disdains to win support from Senate President Emil Jones for a sweeping compromise that would give the governor control of the state school bureaucracy.

The fine print of an education package agreed upon by the two last week earmarks up to $20 million in construction funding for the Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy in Jones' South Side Senate district, an item that had not previously been in the governor's school building package."

-- My School district is building a new high school, I don't think we got $20 million from the state.

Considering the members of her family who have been assisinated while being PM it makes sense to me.

MSNBC - Gandhi allies: She no longer wants to be PM: "Chatterjee said Gandhi would later explain why she does not want to become prime minister.
'There are rumors that her children are against her becoming prime minister, maybe because of security reasons, he said, adding that she was buckling under pressure, due to fears for her children."

-- It would have been an interesting difference in India going from a Hindu nationalist party member being PM to a woman who was born in India being PM. It's going to be an interesting few days.

OneMan

The Sun Times has some poll numbers
Poll: Obama ahead of Ryan by 8 points in Senate race: "Democrat Barack Obama leads Republican Jack Ryan 48 percent to 40 percent in the U.S. Senate race, according to a new Daily Southtown poll of 500 likely Illinois voters.
Previous polls and Obama's internal polls had suggested a wider gap."

-- Different numbers than we have seen before, at this point with all the play Obama got right after the primary I think we can overcome 8 points. This race is still very much in play.

OneMan

From ThatColoredFellasweblog: Along with my thoughts on each artist
MUSICIANS FOR JOHN KERRY

JAMES TAYLOR -- Not surprised

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH AND YOUNG
-- Considering the problems with the law Crosby has had figure he would support a democrat.

JOHN BON JOVI -- Bummer

COLDPLAY
-- I know Jack Ryan likes them that should count for something

CAROLE KING -- see James Taylor

HENRY ROLLINS -- Seriously bummed but not surpised.

PETER YARROW (PETER, PAUL AND MARY)
-- Would be more shocked if he didn't, guess they are still pissed about that
-- Puff the magic dragon thing

The new Michael Moore film has it's premier at the Cannes film festival and has gotten a lot of attention (not like John Kerry's daughter has (warning naughty photo).

It looks like the film is going to end up as part of the debate about the war on terror as well as playing a role in this years presidential campaign. I look forward to seeing it and what he has to say. I have always found his work thought provoking and at time very entertaining. I may not agree with him but he is good at making you think and that should always be encouraged. Your ideas are not sharpened if you just read and listen to those who agree with you. A good mental exercise would be for any Republican activist would be to see the movie and be ready when your friends start asking you things about the points he has tired to make. Offer facts and intelligent reasoned opinion on why you feel he is right or wrong, etc. You will do yourself, your nation and your party a favor.

However just ignoring his film is not going to be the answer for Republicans. Film can and is a powerful way to deliver a message be it 'Birth of a Nation' or 'Refer Madness' and the Republican party better be ready with an intelligent response and not be reacting if the film takes off.

The Sun Times has some poll numbers.

"Kerry leads Bush 48 percent to 43 percent among likely Illinois voters, but Kerry's margin narrowed considerably from a March 3 poll when he outscored the president by 13 points. At that time, focus on the Democratic presidential nomination created a Bush-bashing environment."

-- As others have pointed out, the media spending point is not really relevant since neither side is really spending on media in Illinois (at least Chicago) like they are in 'battleground' states.

However is this close enough to put the state in-play. We shall see,

You can thank the governor for this one

"After a year out of Springfield's power loop, General Assembly Republicans and business interests, too have been dealt back into the game by Mayor Richard M. Daley's move to bring casino gambling to Chicago. "

-- OneMan

Crains Chicagobusiness.com offers some insight into the reality of gambling in this state.

"Illinois' unfolding gambling strategy scattering an ever-increasing number of casinos and slot machines around the state has a big problem: The losers at the slots and blackjack tables are almost all locals, an approach that saps the state's economy rather than expanding it."

-- This isn't about expanding the economy it's about expanding tax revenues, duh. Just like the lottery at the end of the day this is just a tax on people who are bad at math. My thought at this point on gaming is why not just let anyone with local approval and proof they are not 'outfit' guys open a casino if they want to. That seems to make more sense at this point then the way we do it now. Let's really make this state just like Nevada.

OneMan

Some interesting thoughts about gay marriage from MSNBC - The 'Will & Grace' Effect. The emphasis is the statement is mine.

"The debate isn't just dividing Americans by state in many families it's the cause of friction at the dinner table. Polls show a sizeable generation gap when it comes to supporting same-sex marriage. In a NEWSWEEK Poll, 41 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds back gay marriage, compared with 28 percent of Americans overall. Generation Y is more tolerant than its elders, says pollster Celinda Lake. Christine Dinnino, 17, has regular fights about the marriage issue with her father, Samuel, a 43-year-old retired Army sergeant in Inverness, Fla. Though Samuel bases his objections on the Bible, Christine sees gay marriage as a civil-rights issue. 'It used to be illegal to marry someone of a different race,' she says. 'That sounds pretty foreign to the typical 15-year-old today.'"

-- I would like to think that is sound fairly foreign to most 35 year olds too. However one change that I have noticed over my adult life is how someone being homosexual is really no big deal in my age group. When I was growing up that would have been hard to comprehend. If you had told me I would be working, sailing, etc with homosexuals and be comfortable with it I suspect I would have laughed at you. Today I do just that. However I am still uncomfortable with gay marriage more so due to my religous views than anything else.

So, here is my thought. Get rid of the concept of marriage from the law and create a way for one adult to designate another adult as their 'buddy, partner, whatever' who would get the rights of a traditional couple. So if you want to designate someone as your 'buddy' that you have no romantic interest in but just want them to have health benefits or something you a free to do so. If you wanted to 'split' from your 'buddy' it would be like a traditional divorce with property being devided, etc.

I know this is basicaly civil unions but something about that idea also doesn't work for me either. I don't know why.

OneMan

How sand Sand from Illinois helps produce natural gas.

"The best natural sand for Colorado conditions is 425 to 850 micrometers in diameter and comes from the St. Peter sandstone formation in Ottawa, Ill., said Jennifer Miskimins, a School of Mines geologist"

-- Cool.

CNN.com - Springer to be�Democratic delegate - May 16, 2004: "Ohio Democrats have chosen talk-show host Jerry Springer to be an at-large delegate for the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
'He's made 50 appearances at Democratic events this year. He's been an outspoken advocate for the party,' said Dan Trevas, spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party."

-- I thought the Republican's embracing Don King was dumb, this is right up there with that.

OneMan

Yahoo! News - Bishop Issues Strong Anti-Abortion Edict:

"Catholics who vote for politicians in favor of abortion rights, stem-cell research, euthanasia or gay marriage may not receive Communion until they recant and repent in the confessional, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Colorado Springs said. "
.....

"Sheridan said some Catholics have challenged him to extend his list of positions out of step with church teaching to include the death penalty or the war with Iraq (news - web sites). But Sheridan said he doesn't believe those matters carry the same weight."

-- Well at least someone has addressed the 'Death Penalty' question on this whole point. From a theology viewpoint I don't really get this 'some stuff is worse than others' viewpoint.


OneMan

View More Details: "A commission created to weed out corruption under a tough new state ethics law is closer to becoming a reality. Gov. Rod Blagojevich today appointed two people to the nine-member Illinois Executive Ethics Commission."

-- Only took like a year or something....

Over at theRockford Register Star an "'Angry reporter' wont buy gov's publicity antics".

-- Remember even 'nice guys' can be dorks

OneMan

Why more Republican stuff? Well since I was unable to go down to the convention (my folks are in town) so I feel the need to get my GOP on. Also other blogs I read have links to democratic stuff so I figured some GOP stuff would be cool. Also the election countdown is handy for a bunch of different races, not just President.


OneMan

More from Blago on no Chicago casino.

"'If you do it just this one time, you create a slippery slope and you open the door and I'm just not going to be the governor that turns the Land of Lincoln into the Land of Wayne Newton,' Blagojevich added."

-- Catchy I think it would look good on a license plate. It is possible to override a Veto by the way, it is in the state constitution.

The Sneedster : Putting down a double dose of smack on Blago. (For both hits read the link)

Gov. Blagojevich likes to chide state legislators for being too cozy with special interests. Right?
*The big question: Does the gov believe this axiom doesn't apply to him? . . . especially on a recent trip to Washington seeking transportation funds -- accompanied on the state plane by registered state lobbyist John Wyman, whose clients do debt financing? Just asking."

-- I guess the other question I have is he couldn't fly comercial?
OneMan

Read this and tell me he is not losing it.Memories light corners of gov's mind:

OneMan

The SJ-R.COM - Bernard Schoenburg Column offers up Rod's why on the prayer breakfast.

"The prayer breakfast was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, but with the time it took to get a call to Daley, it turned out the governor arrived in Springfield about noon. Later in the afternoon, he had a news conference at the Statehouse, saying he opposes a Chicago casino this year and would veto any legislation that would authorize one.
'We felt it was critical to, you know, stop this Chicago casino immediately, and ... the whole logistical issue was difficult,' Blagojevich said Wednesday. 'We just had to get the mayor while he was going to France before I was going to announce my position, and it was critical for us, I thought, to get the position out before this process here (in Springfield) starts running, with the Chicago casino.'"

-- FYI, you can make overseas calls from Springfield. I have called Springfield from Germany and I suspect the reverse is true. He seems to have a lot of 'logistical issues' be they funerals or meetings.

OneMan

The Trib tries to explain what is up the Democrats:
In reality, Democrats in power are acting pretty much as they did when they were out of power--forming the proverbial firing squad in a circle.

-- Seems like they are giving each other enough ammo.

Republicans defeat unemployment benefit extension: "Democrats tried to attach the benefit to a corporate tax bill. On a 59-40 vote in the GOP-controlled Senate, they fell just shy of the 60 votes needed to overcome objections that extending the benefits violated last year's budget agreement.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, was the only senator who missed the vote"

-- Interesting headline considering 10 Republicans would have had to have voted with the Democrats to get to 59, too bad John Kerry was too busy runing for president to get back and make it 60-40 so it would have passed.

Perhaps a better headline would have been. "Senator Kerry not voting causes jobless benefit extension to fail"

OneMan

What's up with the Governor. My goal lately has not to be constantly ranting and raving about the governor it has just kind of worked out that way..

What is bugging me about the Governor.

-- His idea of reform that is my way or else. This from a guy who never was much of a reformer when he was a state legislator.

-- How he just blows off meetings and shows up late for stuff. This is a sign of someone who is inconsiderate, be it not attending his own prayer breakfast, showing up late for meetings with important people. It shows a lack of respect for others.

-- Now that we can't borrow anymore or find things to 'monitize' his solution is to raise business fees and taxes. However to accomplish this he feels the need to 'demonize' the business this state creating the impression that they are nothing but tax avoiding entities. If you tax and fee business to death they are going leave, it's that simple. With fewer business you'll have fewer people working and therefore less income tax and less revenues. It's already happening with the trucking industry.

Business is not bad Rod, if you had spent some more of your adult life working for a couple you might actually realize that.

-- How it is still in some ways impossible to figure out what fees and taxes are going to go up, there are vague suggestions but nothing is really final yet. Yes I know this is how budgets in this state often happen. However Capt. Reform could have done something about this.

-- His me vs. everyone else platform. I know this relates to the first point. He seems to really feel that he is the only one who cares about people in this state and everyone else is in some special interest pocket or another.

-- The fact you can't tell how he really feels about something until you put an idea forward and he shoots it down. See gambling expansion.

-- The fact he can't seem to actually spend the night in Springfield. During one session he flew home every night so he can kiss his kids good-night. That sound nice but there are plenty of state reps and state senators who don't have that option who go down to Springfield and work to get stuff done.

He seems to have a sense of entitlement that blows my mind.


-- He still wants to spend money on new things that are nice but not really a good idea during these tight budget times. My kids don't need the state to buy them books or boosting spending by $1 Billion with 100 Million in new programs.

You know I may be a Republican but I had some hope for this guy. So far he has been a real let down. Too bad they didn't nominate Paul Vallas.

Or as the State Journal Register put it
We're rapidly growing tired of trying to understand Gov. Blagojevich's riddle. We suspect many others are as well.

Like OneMan

From Crains:

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday proposed legislation that would force Illinois companies to publicly disclose how much state income tax they pay and the loopholes they use to lower their tax bills.
Such reforms to state tax law would affect virtually all of Illinois publicly traded companies, banks, insurance companies and private firms with more than $100 million in assets. The governor who's proposed 2005 budget includes more than $400 million in new business fees and taxes said the goal of the legislation is to let all Illinois taxpayers know which companies they are subsidizing. "

-- So what is a loophole? Is it my ability to deduct property taxes paid? Deprecation on equipment? The sounds really cute and is really, really stupid. Sort of like the Governor

Things are getting dangerous in Joyce World.:

She starts off making some reasonable arguments about the downside of issuing bonds to pay for more open space but then we get this

"At the same time, Illinois is getting more unfriendly to gun owners.
Would you want to live where there are all kinds of wild animals without some kind of protection for your children and domestic animals and pets? If it were an endangered species, you would be breaking the law and face severe penalities for protecting your own property."

-- Where to start with this. The first thing I am reminded of is Jimbo of South Park when they only shoot in 'self defence'.

Is there ANYONE in this state who feels they need to be armed to protect their home and family against 'critters'?

Is there any judge or jurry in this state that would convict you of anything if you killed a 'critter' that you though presented an imediate threat?

I'll leave the observations about open-land and bonds to someone else.


OneMan

From the State of IL Website for press-releases. Notice who is in front and who is in back....

Governor skips 'his' prayer breakfast

: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich was the first no-show in the 42-year history of the annual Illinois Governor's Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday.
More than 500 guests, including state lawmakers, business leaders and community members, paid $15 apiece to attend the event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
'It's in honor of the governor. And if the governor isn't there, then what are we doing?' asked Richard Stratton, who has served on the breakfast's planning committee for the past 40 years"

-- If anyone needs prayer right now, it's him... Then again it was in Springfield but at least he wasn't late.

Burr Wolff | Tax News: "(04/26/2004) Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has proposed several changes to state sales tax to help buoy the ailing state budget:
1. Initiate sales tax on custom software: The governor estimates a business tax increase of $64 million by eliminating the distinction between canned software sold at retail (subject to sales tax), custom software (subject to service occupation tax on the value of tangible personal property transferred with the software) and software licensed or leased by the developer (currently not taxed). The Governor's proposal would either repeal the Department of Revenue regulation that distinguishes between a sale and a license of software or create an entirely new tax on revenues from software licensing. "

-- What the heck taxing the trucking industry helped it grow. Lets do the same to Software, lord knows it's hard to change where you make software (NOT).

Walter's perspective differs on DUI arrest: "'Walter denies the drunk driving charge, saying the Breathalyzer test showed his alcohol level was under the legal limit at .078,' Robinson reported. 'He also denies running a stop sign, and that he ignored a police warning not to drive. Walter says he will fight the charges at his hearing.'"

-- Yeah, I was 2 one-hundreths below the limit, interesting defense skippy.

Chicago Tribune | Place your bets on who gets jobs at Daley's casino: "Place your bets on who gets jobs at Daley's casino"

-- Kass offers his thoughts on the Daley Casino, he thinks Blago is going to cave... We'll see.

Daley Launches Push For City Casino:

Here is the picture

they used.

Sorry Rosemont: "Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on Tuesday knocked plans to reissue the state's 10th casino license to Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. or anyone else.
Ms. Madigan announced that she has abandoned efforts to voluntarily buy out owners of the existing license, which had been destined to go toward operation of a gaming boat in suburban Rosemont. Instead, her office will resume hearings to revoke the license held by the Flynn family and other investors who control it."

-- You think Blago knew this before she announced it? Time to start issuing new licenses.

Chicagobusiness.com: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Tuesday he opposes Mayor Richard Daley's proposal to build a casino near downtown Chicago, and he promised to veto any legislation that calls for one.


'I oppose it because when it comes to the state budget, there are no quick fixes,' Blagojevich said a news conference in Springfield. 'It's not my vision for the kind of state Illinois should be.' "

-- Emphasis mine. Things are going to be getting really interesting.... No quick fixes like selling the Thompson center or anything like that because we used all the quick fixes last year....

The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > On the Trail: Festivals of Certitude in Land of Red and Blue: "Not only that, she said, but as president of Thomas Jefferson Butler Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, she is tired of the Bush administration claiming it stands for Southern values.
In fact, Ms. Reed said, Mr. Bush reminds her of no one so much as a president who she said once betrayed the Constitution.
'That's right,' she said. 'Abraham Lincoln.'"

-- Works for me... Let the howls begin

From The So-Called Austin Mayor Blog
Obama has 16 point lead in Illinois Senate Contest.

Still work to do, that's all.

Rockford Register Star - Rockford's Newspaper and Website - Local & State News: "And this 'outsider' image that Blagojevich cultivates by shunning Springfield in favor of Chicago is wearing thin. His no-more-business-as-usual mantra just seems silly when business isn't getting done.
The impression that's sinking in out here is that Blagojevich is a bully on a power trip. He doesn't seem to want to work with elected officials from either party to get business done.
Yet, he served in Springfield before going to the U.S. House of Representatives. He should know that he needs cooperation from myriad people who've been around a lot longer than he has. "

-- That is the one thing that has not come up much during all of this stuff on the budget. Rod servered in Springfield before going to congress. I don't seem to recall Capt. Blago anti-special interest man from when he was down there.

Mark my words Mike Madigan is going to spank him hard and go all old school on hims real soon.

e T r u c k e r - News - eTrucker.com is the online destination for everything trucking. For truck drivers looking for jobs, loads, free email, routing weather, trucking news and more! The best truck driving jobs with the best trucking companies: "Illinois' loss in truck registrations has been gained by bordering states, charges the Mid-West Truckers Association, which blames the migration on Illinois' higher registration fees and recent loss of tax exemptions.

Under the International Registration Plan, Illinois interstate truck registrations have dropped by more than 25,000 in the last three years, according to a recent association statement. Neighboring states, including Indiana and Missouri, have witnessed a sizeable increase in registrations, it said.

The 2005 Illinois interstate trucking registrations are now at an eight-year low because carriers have relocated, closed or cut back, the association stated. The state now has 16,852 fewer interstate truck registrations than the previous year, while the number of registered IRP carriers in Illinois has decreased by 2,718."

-- Wait I thought these new fees were not suposed to have an impact on the num,ber of registrations in this state. You mean an increase in tax has lead to business leaving the state. I am shocked, shocked I tell ya'.

The Southern willingness - Top Stories - LAWMAKERS NOT EXCITED ABOUT TAXES ON SERVICES: "Everyday services from manicures to rounds of putt-putt golf could be taxed as part of a solution to the state's budget crunch.

Senate Republican spokeswoman Patty Schuh said House Bill 750 includes amendments to add taxes to bowlers, dry cleaning, dating services, parking lots, garages and 'just about every possible thing you could imagine.' "



But Cindy Davidsmeyer, spokeswoman for Senate Democrats, said the bill is "not going anywhere." She said Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, "is not real fond of service taxes."

"He feels they're regressive," Davidsmeyer said.

Ultimately, the state's fiscal 2005 spending plan will be decided behind closed doors, revealed during the last few days or hours of the spring session and voted on at the last minute. But when it comes to finding solutions to fixing a looming budget deficit, service taxes may be among the few choices left.

-- I think consumers are not really excited about taxes on services either... Wouldn't be nice if just once the budget was debated in public with real details available beforehand?

Chicago Tribune | Post-partum response good, but not enough

-- Sometimes I think Zorn is a little to quick to call for someone to be released from prison (sometimes, not always) however I think I agree with him in this case. If you have ever had to deal with someone with even a mild case of the 'baby-blues' you realize the horrible things a severe case can do to someones mind.

OneMan

Daley calls McCormick revelations troubling: "Everybody's troubled' by recent revelations that one of McCormick Place's main unions is riddled with ex-cons and reputed mob figures, Mayor Daley said Monday.
But, he added, ultimately that's up to the riggers union and the private groups running trade shows to address."

-- Troubled is one thing, I guess the better question that he should have been asked was if he was surprised... I wasn't.

A casino owned by the City of Chicago, run by a private contractor will be fine. We have seen consistently how the city and state avoids things getting 'mobbed' up. There is nothing to see here, everything is fine.

Makes you wonder if he would be late to his own funeral

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich left politicians and friends and family of the late state Sen. Vince Demuzio waiting last week when he arrived nearly 20 minutes late for the senator's 10 a.m. funeral.
Demuzio died April 27 after battling colon cancer. Among those in attendance at the May 1 service were Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President Emil Jones Jr. and numerous other political leaders from throughout Illinois. They were on time.
Organ music played at St. Mary's and Joseph's Church in Carlinville as those in attendance waited. The service couldn't begin because Blagojevich was the first speaker scheduled to memorialize Demuzio, who served nearly 30 years in the Senate and spent 1986 to 1990 as chairman of the state's Democratic Party.
The governor's office did not return a call seeking explanation.
After the service, Blagojevich boarded a state plane to go to a news conference in tornado-ravaged Utica. The other officials went on to the gravesite."

-- What a huge frigin tool. Sneed of all people had something about him being late to a meeting with the Illinois delegation to congress a few days back. It makes you wonder, are his 'people' that disorganized? Is he? Is he being set-up by the media and the state legislature? Is it going to be Governor Lisa Madigan in a couple of years?

The 'New' Blogger is up. One nice thing is it has a spell checker so I can now seem more intelligent by spelling words right. Also it has it's own comments engine, so I have 'activated' comments and we will see how things go.

It also seems the links at the bottom of each post now treat each post as a different post. No more (scroll down). Cool

Chicago Tribune | Court referee urged to open Jack Ryan's divorce records: "The candidacy of Republican Jack Ryan for the U.S. Senate in Illinois has made it more imperative to unseal records of his divorce and child-custody dispute with actress Jeri Ryan, an attorney for the news media argued during a hearing before a court referee Monday."

-- Isn't that really the only reason this is going on. If he was still just teaching at Hales I doubt anyone would be going to court to get these unsealed. At least it appears this may be over and done with within 30 days. That will be nice.

OneMan

NBC5.com - News - Chicago Anchorman Walter Jacobson Arrested: "Chicago television anchorman Walter Jacobson was arrested early Saturday for allegedly driving while drunk, running a stop sign and obstructing traffic in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, police said.
Jacobson, 66, was observed by an officer 'staggering' out of a pizza shop at around 12:45 a.m., according to police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak. Jacobson then approached a vehicle that was double-parked in such a way that other motorists were forced to drive left of the center to get around him, she said."

-- Wow...

TheChicago Tribune | Still separate, unequal has the first part of a series about education. It was interesting because it references two different school districts that I attended. The grammar school district 149 for K-8 and SD 250 (Thornridge, Thornwood, Thornton) for four years of High School.


"For example, Northbrook School District 27, which is 85.5 percent white, is able to spend $13,446 per student, according to the most recent state finance data available. Sunset Ridge District 29 in Northfield, which is 93 percent white, spends $12,589.

In contrast, the impoverished and nearly all-black Dolton School District 149 spends $6,977 per student, and Chicago Public Schools spends $8,482."

--
Here is the Report Card(pfd) for the HS District I attended. The average teacher salary is significantly higher than the state average. The grade school I attendee also has salaries over the state average for teachers. The Northbrook district average teacher salary is $60,511 for the grade school I attended in SD 149 the average is $57,000, not a huge difference.

The Trib article makes a lot of good points, one thing I wanted to point out is that teachers in some of these 'poor' districts are not making much less money that teachers in more 'affluent' districts in some cases.

I have felt for a while that money alone is not the answer for school issues anymore. We have spent more and more money on schools over time and it does not seem to be helping. I am starting to think that vouchers and choice are the only real option left. We have tried to modify how we finance schools in this state (Remember Jim Edgar a Republican BTW) and how far his plan got. If funding is not the answer than not making kids attend local schools may be the only answer available.

The Trib has some stuff on how the two canidates feel about this issue. I think this really helps define Jack Ryan as a different Republican in some ways.

Jack Ryan has commented on this before, it really is a social justice issue.

View More Details: "Whatever might be written on the short list in Mr. Madigan's pocket, insiders on all sides of Springfield's political wars say the fight is more basic than that. In essence, the speaker is tired of having himself and his chamber dissed."

-- The story is Ok, however more than anything else I find it interesting that a story on the WBBM news radio 780 web site contains the word 'dissed'.

OneMan

Unsafe at any speed.

Back in March there was an accident near my house that resulted in two people being killed. I live at little over a couple of miles in the other direction from the site than Rick does. Follow the Rick link to the story about the acident. As well as some interesting comentary on the posting by Rick.

It turns out the one drvier had been ticketed 27 times since 1999 acording to this in-depth story from Beacon News.

A couple of things I would like to find out that the story did not cover.

First, what judge gave him his license back? Should he have been drving after so may tickets in the past 5 years?
I don't know what judge did and I look forward to finding out so if I ever meet the judge at a fundrasier or other event I get the chance to ask why? As for the should he have kept his license I think the answer is no.... At some point enough moving violations should cost you your license for an exented period.

Secondly is this guys history and his postings on a message board being held against him and are they going to bias any trial against him. I don't know if the postings of anyone should be taken as anything more that someone trying to seem cool, it seems some people have been using his posts as some sort of evidence that they guy was unsafe behind the wheel, whereas it may have just been some guy trying to act cool.


The point I am trying to make here is that they guy may have demonstrated that he was not mature enough to be behind the wheel of a car, that doesn't mean he was at fault in this acident and we should wait to see what all of the evidence has to say.

For disclosure I have gotten 2 tickets in the past 17 years. (One for failure to reduce speed to prevent an acident about 10 years ago and a speeding ticket about 5.5 years ago).

Another interesting side note on this is the amount of postings that Rick is still getting on his post on the subject.

OneMan

Pantagraph.com - News - LaHood rips governor's tardiness 05/08/04: "An Illinois congressman criticized the governor as 'rude' Friday for arriving 30 minutes late to a luncheon meeting with the state's Congressional delegation during his lobbying trip to Washington."

I think it shows a rudeness toward people he's trying to influence," U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, a Republican from Peoria, said of Blagojevich's late arrival to Thursday's meeting. "It doesn't show much political savvy or political class."

LaHood said most of the members who attended the meeting had to leave before Blagojevich arrived because they were called for a vote. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, also on the lobbying trip, had arrived on time.

Blagojevich, a Democrat in his first term as governor, is routinely late to news conferences and events where he is scheduled to speak.

-- It is just this kind of special interest of 'courtesy' that he is fighting against. Your luck he left Chicago at all...

Rick's blog pointed out a cool site Oh, That Liberal Media take a look

The Hull story . . .: "The disappearing act . . .
Gov. Blagojevich's critics claim he's becoming a 'Mr. No Show.'
*Consider: It's becoming de rigueur that Blago either misses events or arrives late. But Sneed's item complimenting Blago for making good on his promise a year ago to invite seventh-grader Becky Lang -- daughter of state Rep. Lou Lang -- and her classmates to the governor's mansion in Springfield on Thursday takes the cake.
*To wit: The Gov was again a no show and enlisted Secretary of State Jesse White to be his stand-in. Oh well. Blago must be going about the state's business."

-- Well Mike, it would have been helpful if the entry on the 6th had mentioned that Blago was suposed to join them for lunch and/or that Becky Lang is the daughter of Lou Lang. So the first story was a 'so what' (you may have to page down to see my entry on the 6th) and this one is a 'big surprise'

OneMan

Perhaps Mike Madigan is doing what is he is doing so Lisa can become our next Gov.?

Quincy Herald-Whig: "Truck registrations in Illinois have plunged by nearly 17,000, or about 10 percent, in the past year, and a spokesman for the trucking industry says higher fees are costing the state money and jobs.
'We have been accused of crying wolf, but the numbers tell the story. Thousands of lost trucks mean lost jobs,' said Don Schaefer, executive vice president of the Mid-West Truckers Association Inc.
Rebecca Rausch, a spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said most of those lost registrations do not represent lost jobs.
'We don't have any companies by name that have left the state of Illinois. We stand by these fees. Repealing them would take money out of health care, public education' and other priority programs, Rausch said. "

-- Why is it every time someone talks about reducing a fee or tax it will result in taking money out of health care, public education' and other priority programs? Is there nothing else the state could cut?

Madigan doesn't buy school proposal: "'It's important to remember Speaker Madigan is just one vote in this process,' Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said."

-- Umm, no he can keep it from ever reaching the floor. Come on your boss was a state rep wasn't he? Get some info on the power of the 4 tops.

OneMan

Some more thoughts on the Cheif from a new voice over at the Leader.

Her thesis.

-- The people complaing about the Cheif are not Native American's so therefore they have no right to complain.

-- The fact Bill Ayers is still teaching at UIC is much worse so therefore that is the problem everyone should focus on.

Lets look at what she has to say

State President Emil Jones has had enough of the racism and stereotyping practiced by the trustees of the University of Illinois, who according to Mr. Jones have a lot in common with the segregationists of the last century.

A couple of weeks ago, he learned just how bad things were after meeting with a couple dozen Birkenstock-wearing, narcissistic, self-righteous, mush-headed little twits who have spent so little time in class that they don't realize that their time would be better spent in class than sprawled in the hall of a campus administration building bleating asinine demands.

-- Well those who are complaining are basically stupid hippies so we can ignore them? Interesting argument.

A vocal minority opposing the traditional mascot is asserting the rights of people who never asked for their help, in effect saying even if you don't think you are offended, you are, and we're going to solve this problem that you don't know you have.

By gratuitously assuming to speak for them, they have taken living, breathing Native Americans and turned them into mascots for their politically correct cause.

-- Umm, Native American's have spoken out about this very issue and have spoken against the Cheif. But giving her the benefit of the doubt that NO Native Americans have spoken out against the Cheif using her logic it would be wrong to complain about anything unless it impacts you directly. So if I see what I think is an wrong being inflicted against a group I am not a member of, lets say women using her logic I should not say anything since I am not impacted since I am not a woman.


The great evil he fights wears a headdress and war paint. It is the mascot that the University of Illinois has had since 1926, Chief Illiniwek.

-- So is he a mascot or not? He doesn't go around and fight with the other mascot and/or lead the band or play with kids like Victor E. Huskie does.


Last August the New York Times called Bill Ayers a "distinguished professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago."

Distinguished?

I'm not sure about that, but he is on the payroll of the taxpayers of the State of Illinois. The newspaper of liberal record had written about Bill Ayers before. In probably the worst and most ironic case of bad timing in history, it printed a Valentine to Ayers and his partner in terrorism, now wife, Bernadine Dohrn on September 11, 2001.

-- Totaly with her on the Bill Ayers thing, that is the reason Mrs. OneMan (who got her MSN from UIC) and I will never give a dime to that school unless he is no longer on the payroll. The fact my tax dollars in any way shape or form help that guy out also really bothers me.

The thing that blows my mind about this whole Cheif thing is the anger that some people seem to focus at people who want to dump the Cheif. It seems to me that even if you disagree with them can't you at least understand where they are coming from? You might not agree with them but do you really need to spew this anger at them?

I have read some intelegent arguments on the Cheif from some surprising sources and since I really don't have a dog in this fight I really haven't made up my mind yet.

The one thing that is not going to influence me and people on the fence about the issue is the 'stupid hippies' argument.

OneMan

:: Tom Cross for Illinois - Welcome to JoinCross.com! ::: "Don't Believe the Hype"

-- I just love the fact that a Tom Cross' blog has a refernce to Flava-Flav.

OneMan

Limbaugh's Rules of Order: We Couldn't Have Put It Better Ourselves: (Warning link contains bad words)

"Then Rush Limbaugh put it all in perspective, after a caller remarked that the 'stack [of] naked men' was 'like a college fraternity prank.'
RUSH: Exactly. Exactly my point! This is no different than what happens at the skull and bones initiation and we're going to ruin people's lives over it and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them because they had a good time. You know, these people are being fired at every day. I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You of heard of need to blow some steam off? "

-- This has to be one of the most stupid things I have ever read. I don't know if he said it, but it still one of the dumbest things I have ever read.

Pantagraph.com - News - Legislators question cost savings of prison closings 05/06/04: "In the case of St. Charles, Corrections officials said they recently learned the land may originally been donated to the state and are researching whether they could sell the property.
Lawmakers pointed out that the youth center sits on valuable land that developers would want.
'This ain't about saving money for no prisons,' said Rep. Lovana Jones, D-Chicago. 'It's about you want the land. How are you going to save money if you're going to spend the savings?'"

-- Yeah to heck with having young offenders in facilities near their homes, there is yet another asset we can dump. So what if we just spent millions fixing the place up and anyone who buys it is not really going to want or need the stuff there, that's land we can sell. I would love to see some details on how closing St. Charles is going to save money.

OneMan

Sneed demonstrates that she is aware of what is going on...Pssst!:

"Gov. Blago is making good on a brief encounter he had last year with Becky Lang, 13, a seventh-grader at Skokie's Fairview South Elementary School. Becky asked if her class could visit the Springfield mansion this spring. They arrive today for a lunch and tour. Nice."

-- Well since the mansion is normally open for tours. I don't see how this is worthy of a mention. Then again it might mean that Blago will be spending the day in Springfield, actually he is spending the day in Washington. So Blago will not be joining them for lunch but he might send them a letter however.

OneMan

:: Tom Cross for Illinois - Welcome to JoinCross.com! ::: "Chief Illiniwek Petition"

Over at JoinCross they have a petition to keep the cheif or at least leave it up to the Trustee's of the U of I. They also point out the CSU connection of Emil Jones. I give him credit however for taking a stand at least vs. the 'I don't know' we get from Blago.

The picture however reminds me that is still looks a bit like a white kid playing Indian.

WIFR | Trucking Fees: "Many say trucks are the wheels that drive our economy. But in Illinois, hundreds of trucking companies and truck drivers are riding out of town.

'It�s affecting our business greatly. A lot of people are leaving Illinois and going to other states to set up businesses. That's really sad because what are we going to do then?' said Beth Schwebke, co-owner of Winnebago Cartage Co. in Garden Prairie."

-- Really long term it won't be a problem, or Blago will be a cabnet member or running for president...

OneMan

NBC5.com - Employment - State Officials Nix Whizzinator: "CHICAGO -- State officials have officially said no to the Whizzinator and other products that help people avoid positive urine drug tests."

-- No really comment here, just like the term Whizzinator sounds like a nickname to me.

Madigan opposes governor's education reform plan: "House Speaker Michael Madigan rejected Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to shake up how Illinois runs its schools Wednesday, calling instead for the governor to have more input in the current education administration structure"



As speaker, Madigan, D-Chicago, can keep legislation from reaching the House floor and has the influence to get enough votes to defeat bills that do come up.

Madigan said Wednesday that creating the new Department of Education would conflict with the state's Constitution, lead to unnecessary lawsuits and create two bureaucracies instead of streamlining educational services

-- I find my self agreeing with Mike Madigan , please mommy make it stop...

However it also serves as a small reminder to Blago about who is in charge.

OneMan

ArchPundit: The Weekly Joyce.

-- Pretty much what he says.

OneMan

Come on and feel old with OneMan at Hey Hey 16k . (warning there is a bad word in the background )

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | 2nd suit filed in Glenbrook hazing: "Three suburban teenagers injured in last year's hazing incident involving Glenbrook North High School students have sued more than 60 people, demanding total damages exceeding $1.5 million.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of Cheryl Daley, Marina Fonarev and Lauren Wilner, who were juniors at the time, said Rollin Soskin, their attorney"

-- Please, the advantage however of suing so many teenagers is the asumption that mom & dad's homeowners is just going to settle.

TheOmahaChannel.com - News - Anhydrous Tank Tips Officers To Possible Meth Lab: "Anhydrous is the key ingredient in meth, and officers spotted a 9,600-gallon tank in front of a house at 151st and Chandler streets. The owners had run a hose from the tank inside the house, according to deputies."

-- As my Dad always said there is a reason it's called 'Dope'.

UI cancels game over nickname - Daily Iowan - Metro: "Adhering to a policy instituted 10 years ago, but not always followed, the UI athletics department recently canceled a baseball game with Bradley University of Peoria, Ill., because of the school's mascot."

The game was originally scheduled to be played today, but the athletics department canceled the nonconference game in February, recognizing that Bradley's nickname - the Braves - falls under the university's policy to not schedule nonconference games with teams that have American Indian mascots.

Snip
Though Bradley got rid of its mascot in 1989, Parker said, the UI did not have much choice in the matter, adding that University of Wisconsin-Madison is the only other school that won't schedule games against Bradley.

-- So it's ok for a school to have a mascot that you don't like as long as they are in your conference. Seems a bit stupid to me. I think the Bible has a good one on this.

Matthew 7:3 - Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

If you have a policy like this, just using it against non-conference teams is stupid. You should apply it to all teams you play.

OneMan

Give, people give, I don't know who gives? From the Daily Herald:

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently faced criticism from a watchdog group that his administration is doling out state contracts to people who donated to his campaign. The governor said nothing unethical occurred because he doesn't pay attention to who's giving him money; therefore, it couldn't influence decisions.
'Another thing that I get to do now as governor is I don't do any fund-raising anymore. I just go to the events. So I don't know who does it - you know, who's doing it, who's contributing,' Blagojevich claimed.
Yet his campaign raised more than $5 million in the final six months of 2003 and he continues to attend high-profile fund-raising events both in Illinois and in California. He doesn't face re-election until 2006. Reporters asked Blagojevich if he really had no idea what people were doing at those gatherings.
'Wait a minute. Whenever any of us show up at a fund-raiser, we obviously know people are making contributions,' Blagojevich explained. 'What I'm saying is, I don't get involved in the detail of who's giving me money or how much. I don't know that. I don't ask that. I haven't made a single one of these types of (fund-raising) phone calls since I've been governor.'"

-- Yeah, you don't know who is making donations. I am so not buying that.

The New York Times > National > Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush: "The Walt Disney Company is blocking its Miramax division from distributing a new documentary by Michael Moore that harshly criticizes President Bush, executives at both Disney and Miramax said Tuesday."

-- Yeah Disney that's the way to avoid controversy, you won't get any flak for this at all... Dorks. I may not agree with Micheal Moore in some cases however trying to stop the release at this point is just dumb.

OneMan

ESPN.com - MLB - 'Greedy new low': Uniform ads anger Nader: "Presidential candidate Ralph Nader called the advertisements on uniforms during major league baseball's season-opening series an 'obscene embarrassment' and sent a letter of protest Tuesday."

-- Glad to see Ralph is going after the important issues.

STLtoday - News - Metro East: "Two victims of medical malpractice said Monday at a news conference arranged by consumers' groups that they want to put a human face on the debate about limits on verdicts for pain and suffering.

Bob Vogt, 60, said he has cared for his wife since she suffered a series of medical errors that led to severe strokes 14 years ago. Vogt's wife, Jean, now 58, has the mental capacity of a toddler and requires constant care at the couple's home in Swansea, Vogt said.

Vogt settled his wife's medical malpractice case in 1993, agreeing to a 30-year annuity that would pay for Jean Vogt's needs for her lifetime.

'My attorney did do quite well on' the settlement, Vogt said. 'But it provided for me and my wife.' "

The news conference Monday, hosted by Victims and Families United and the Coalition for Consumer Rights,


-- None of the proposals that I have seen would have any impact on the 30 year annuity you got. It would only have an impact on 'pain and suffering' which has turned into the equivilant of punitive damages in this state.

For more info on Victims And Families united. You can go to their web site. I do find it interesting that donations to the orgaization are NOT tax deductable.. I wish I knew more about this organization.

OneMan

TheStar.com - U.S. eyes proposal to draft women: "The chief of the U.S. Selective Service System has proposed registering women for the military draft and requiring that young Americans regularly inform the government about whether they have training in niche specialties needed in the armed services.
The proposal, which the agency's acting director Lewis Brodsky presented to senior Pentagon officials just before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, also seeks to extend the age of draft registration to 34, up from 25."

-- Is this good? As the father of a son and a daughter I would have to say no.

The very idea of drafting women bothers me, call me a sexist pig. Fine. As a man I was always aware of the fact that I could be drafted if my nation ever needed me and I was comfortable with that. May not have liked it, but I was comfortable with it. Other family members had been drafted or joined the military on their own so I always felt on a level a resposibility to step up if I was called. However I would have felt really awkward if a woman had been drafted to serve and I would have been able to stay home. I can't really explain my logic on this since there is no logic behind it. It's just a feeling.

As for the 34 thing, well I am going to be 35 here in a few months so that will not impact me. I just wonder how many guys keep their registration info up to date until age 25.

OneMan

Over at the Leader an intelegent argument against the chief.

So why is it, then, that an impersonation done by a white student in composite tribal costume, parading in what appears to be part Brittany Spears strut and part shaman incantation at the halftime shows of Fighting Illini football games, has been stubbornly protected by the University of Illinois trustees for the past two decades?

-- I have to agree with his point about the quality of the dance. As for the rest of his argument, read it for your self. I think he makes some good points.

Read some Oprah Indecency Complaints that have been sent to the FCC. WARNING: Some of the letters contain bad words and so-forth.

Yeah this makes sense.
Overlawyered: "Stoned Skater Can Sue County": "California court of appeals has reinstated 17-year-old Angelo Seaver's suit against Santa Cruz county, which a trial judge had thrown out. While stoned on pot one moonless night Seaver had gone skateboarding in a public park after closing and crashed into a gate. The 'panel found that because there were no signs, reflectors or lighting to help Seaver see the gate, the county created a 'dangerous condition of public property.'' "

Dude you can read the opinion here (pdf). Thanks to Overlawyered.

At least one father has a different take about photos' of coffins ariving at Dover. I think his words are heartfelt and honest.

Our Honor, Our Grief
Keep politicians and the media away from our fallen soldiers

-- Take a look.

OneMan

Boston.com / News / Politics / Presidential candidates / john kerry / Kerry tells of flying a jet over Israel: "Kerry said Monday that Tel Aviv kept denying his request to fly one of their planes, but that the colonel who was showing him around Israel during a 1991 visit not only got him into a trainer, but let
him take the controls."

-- Nothing like using your influence to try get to fly a jet. Dork

Over at Public Affairs: Jeff has some Democrats getting their democrat on.

Note: I have updated the quote a bit. Go to Jeff's site to read the full transcript.

It's times like this I wish I actually had cable instead of a dish so I can watch the show...


" Big questions, big taxes and big solutions? Education--Who benefits and who pays? Is there such a thing as a free lunch?

State Rep. Julie Hamos (18th Dist., D- Evanston) debates and discusses education and education funding with show host and legal recruiter Jeff Berkowitz on Public Affairs, recorded on April 26, 2004 and airing in the suburbs the week of May 3, 2004 [See, below, May 3 blog entry, for the suburban airing schedule] and airing through-out the City of Chicago on Monday night, May 10 at 8:30 pm on Cable Ch. 21. A partial transcript of the show is included, below:

State Rep. Julie Hamos: And, again, we [State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg(D- 9th Dist.) and I] are asking big questions. We are saying-- is it time to talk about universal health care? People are so unhappy with their health care programs. Is it time to talk about universal health care? And, we are also asking the question can we do anything at the state level- I am not sure we can- when we talk about universal health care. So, we are willing- my state senator Jeff Schoenberg and I are willing to raise the big issues of the day, but, really, there are no easy answers. You can't just talk about them in hypotheticals "

Hamos: Oh Jeff, you know what- I think that remedial education is a very nice thing. We ought to pay for it. There is going to be tutoring involved. There is mentoring involved. There is school—

Berkowitz: Who is we? Who is we [as in “We ought to pay for it”]? We are they [and they are us].

Hamos: We, the state of Illinois, which is putting 5% of the Evanston School Budget into the Evanston City [public] schools is not paying for the [federal] Leave No Child Behind Law requirements. This is a very important problem.
For these [Evanston?] schools. And, it is a problem for schools around the State.

Berkowitz: You make it sound like there are four entities involved: There are people and there is a state government, and there is a federal government and then there is a local government. But, those governments are basically [just] people. It is not like the people in Evanston or Winnetka or Wilmette or Glencoe or Kenilworth [or Bannockburn or Hoffman Estates or Palatine or Chicago] can say—we would rather not pay for this—can we go to the federal government? Because the federal government is going to ask them [the taxpayers from those local villages or cities] to pay for it. Or, they say- can we go to the state government? Well, what does that mean? The state is going to come back to those people in your district and raise their [state] taxes. So, when you say, “We ought to pay for it,”-- we are paying for it. It is a matter of in what form. So, you are saying we ought to pay for it in the form of a state tax, as opposed to a local property tax. You have to be precise on this show. ...When you say we ought to pay for it, you mean we ought to pay for it in [the form of] one tax as opposed to another [tax].

Hamos: Jeff, you want to talk about school funding reform. I am saying we don’t have a program yet for school funding reform, but I would be open to hearing about it because I do think the schools need some help and I am very sympathetic to the needs of schools and the children receiving quality education. That is all I am saying. I am not prepared to talk about the specifics.
***********************************************
Berkowitz: …But, my point is, if people [in an affluent village or city] want to do that [pass a referendum to override the tax cap limitations], they can do it and pay for it themselves. Evanston is not a low income city, on average. It has some low-income areas. It is not clear to me that Evanston should say, “Cairo, East St. Louis or some other low income area – why don’t you ship some money up to Evanston? That’s what you are saying when you say the “State” should do more. The state can’t do it. It is someone else in some other low-income area. What is your response to that?

Hamos: I don’t have one.

Berkowitz: You don’t? Okay.


Hamos: You know, I mean we are talking about school funding reform. I think it is time for us to look at that in a serious way. We haven't in ten years. I think we should look at that. The school budgets are in trouble. We know there is a Leave No Child Behind law. We know that we are not paying for special education. We should be looking at all of that. We haven't done that yet. At the appropriate time, I hope we will. I hope that the Governor will be ready to step up to the plate to do that. And, then I think we will consider whatever proposal is out there.

Enjoy this little film.

Over at POLIS there is a nice update on Senate Race news.

From Crains Chicagobusiness.com:

" Illinois' comptroller said Monday he will halt nearly $2 million in payments due Accenture Ltd. pending a recommendation on the propriety of the state doing business with a technology consulting firm incorporated in Bermuda.
Comptroller Daniel Hynes said he asked the state's Procurement Policy Board to clarify whether the state should be doing business with U.S. companies that chose to incorporate outside the United States. "

"Becky Carroll, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget office, said Accenture was paying Illinois income taxes as part of its contract with the state"

-- That's Rod for ya, as long as the state get it's then it is all fine. Then again by having Danny! do this the state gets to hold on to some cash a bit longer.

OneMan

One Report Three Headlines:

Governor loses budget backer
Civic Federation raises concerns from the Trib
vs.
Group backs gov against tax hikes at the Sun Times.
vs.
Civic Federation blasts guv’s budget
Tax watchdog reverses support for fiscal moves at Crains Chicago Business.


The Report it's self will most likely be on line at The Civic Federation. The Sun Times says it's already on-line but I can't find it.

My only question is as I understand it most of the fee increases have not actually been anounced yet so how can you really have an opinion. When I get a chance I will take a look at the report.


Is online now (pdf)
OneMan

Over at the Os-blog he talks about the Trib article on the Governors style go take a look at his take on it. There is one quote from the Trib article I wanted to share however

The strategy of demonizing critics is a pattern that Blagojevich has followed since announcing his candidacy for governor, choosing public settings to brand those who stand in his way as out-of-touch and obstructionist--or worse.

Someday this is going to really cost him.

Over at Makes me Ralph he has a very different take on Ryan's position of prevaling Union Wage.

I don't see how this a racial issue at all, pro-union stances by Republicans in this state are not all strange. Be it Jim Thompson saying 'No!' to right to work and inviting union members over to the mansion for some beer or positions taken by Republican governors and legislators since. Illinois is a very union freindly state even after all the years of Republican Governors. Also as I understand it he took this position well before it seemed like Obama was going to win the nomination.

Using the position as a wedge against one canidate that seemed like a long shot in a crowded and well funded democratic primary field? Unlikely.

In todays Trib there is a look at how Obama's victory kind of set old school ethnic and racial voting theory in state on it's ear.

Simple piece of advice, Don't vote for anyone just because of their ethnic/race background. Vote for them because you feel they can do the best job.

Rick offers up his thoughts on the Dem veepstakes. I don't think John Edwards is the answer, I think he would overshadow Kerry too much. I suspect it will be Gephardt he will not overshadow Kerry as much.

Watched some of last nights Nightline episode last night (I replayTV'd the whole thing). It was tasteful and made you think. A few thoughts.

-- Looking at the ranks of the people who were killed who are about my age, the officers were Captains and the the rest were mostly NCO's.
-- How young so many of the people are. Next time you get ticked off at the kid behind the register at the gas station for something remember kids his age are being killed in Iraq and Afganastan to try and make your life and world safer. You may not agree with why they are there, you may not agree with all sorts of things. However those making the sacrafice and serving our nation have earned all of our respect. Not just now but 20 years from now when the need VA healthcare.

-- How they seemed to truly represent America and how diverse the nation is. Another thing to keep in the back of your mind.

-- One of the names I caught as I was watching it live was the son of the next-door neighbor of my wifes late grandmother. Just kind of brought it all home again for a mintue.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | DEA Agent Shoots Self in Gun Safety Class: "He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. He then pulled back the slide and asked an audience member to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded."


-- Remember saftey rules 1 & 3. Also as I recall from when I took a skeet (or was it trap) class. Never takes anyones word that the wepon is unloaded always inspect it yourself.

OneMan

Catholic lawmakers face choice: " If Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) were to present himself before you for communion, would you serve him? George indicated he's not sure. The question assumes that Durbin would continue to be unrepentant for his pro-abortion rights stand. "

-- I guess my question would be if an elected offical also disagreed with the position of the Catholic Church on captial punishment would they be denied communion?