Yeah that's the ticket Alan go after Cheney's Daughter who does he think he is Blagozo attacking Lisa via Mike? Again Alan contrary to what you may think the voters of Illinois can really care less about why lesbians are selfish hedonists.

The Trib also has some more on it...

Campaigning in North Middleton Township, Pa., with President Bush, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) spoke to reporters about Republican chances to hold the Senate and said, "I think it's clear we lose Illinois."

Informed about Keyes' comments about Mary Cheney, McCain said, "I don't think that's appropriate, but it's not the first inappropriate remark Mr. Keyes has made. He made a remark the other day that people who perform abortions are the same as terrorists. That's a very unique take on that issue and one that's very seldom espoused."

I am reminded again why I supported McCain 4 years ago and why he is my type of Republican.

Is this whole race just another chance for you to spew forth? Do you really think this is the way to victory? In all seriousness at this point if you keep this up Obama will whip you and I think the Libertarian will end up getting more votes than you.

At this point I really think Keyes just want to put his standard rap out there one more time. I would like to think he has enough sense to realize that this isn't playing anywhere, even Peoria.


OneMan

Watched some convention tonight, I think Arnold did well, I think they should have tweaked the angle on his teleprompter a bit. The Bush girls however need to get new writers whoever approved that 'script' needs his head checked.


OneMan

Yes, I am also doing AdWords now... We'll see if they make me any actual money (I am not holding my breath).

OneMan

Over at RandomActOfKindness there is some scoop on the latest challenge to Keyes being on the ballot.

As Chillinois points out Obama was down in Alabama rasing some money at $1K a head it didn't say if it was an Obama fundraiser or not. I guess well have to wait for the FEC report. However if it was fundraiser for the Civil Rights Institute then I think the blog would have mentioned it.

I am guessing it was a fundraiser for Obama. Not that there is anything wrong with him having a fundraiser, however having the blog make it sound like he was just down there to give a prayer at a famous Civil Rights Church...

Then again I am bitter so you make the call.

OneMan

From Sneed some Scoopsville . . .:

"The Bush babies . . .
No sighting yet of Yalie Jay Blount, the summer intern for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert who has reportedly captured the heart of Barbara, one of the Bush twins. He was not spotted with her when she and her sister, Jenna, made their eye blink entrance to a young GOPers soiree Monday night decked out in tank tops and jeans."

Now my 'cooler' completely fake version

Had my first sighting of Illini Chris Rhodes, the Blog Guru for State House Speaker Minority Leader Tom Cross who has reportedly captured the hearts of Barbara and Jenna, that's right both of the Bush twins. He was spotted with them when all three made their eye blink entrance to a young GOPers soiree Monday night with the twins decked out in tank tops and jeans and Chris styling in Armani. 'Natch

The Buckshot: Cool
The Backshot: What does backshot even mean?

-- Ya gotta dream Chris, and a shout out to Chris who is Ageless and Priceless

It Could Happen

OneMan

Philadelphia Daily News | 08/31/2004 | CSN boosts Eagles, NFL offerings on its menu: "The popular 'Post Game Live' returns, hosted by Michael Barkann, with Ray Didinger, former Eagles running back Vaughn Hebron and Gov. Rendell.
Tom Stathakes, CSN's vice president of news and programming, said Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is a big Bears fan and is aware of Rendell's TV gig. Stathakes said he has been told Blagojevich 'would be very interested in doing some things with us.'"

-- You may want to check to make sure he is not really a Rams fan when he is downstate.

OneMan

MSNBC - Virginia Rep. Schrock won't seek third term: "Republican U.S. Rep. Edward L. Schrock abruptly announced Monday that he will not seek a third term, citing unspecified allegations that have called into question his ability to serve."

There is some more here including some speculation about what the allegations are.

-- Strange.

OneMan

Gov warms up to scaled-back casino: "Gov. Blagojevich, during an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board last week, sounded warm to the concept of a scaled-back Chicago casino that's more along the lines of Illinois' nine existing riverboats. "

-- Is anyone going to really trust him on this?

Belleville News-Democrat | 08/30/2004 | State may quench thirst for revenue with official drink: "Houston also said there is concern that selecting an official state beverage would hurt smaller beverage distributors in the state.
'With the number of these blind vendors that operate rest stop areas, it appears that this will have a harmful impact on them and they may wind up closing their jobs,' he said. 'Chambers of commerce throughout Illinois operate a number of concession stands at state fairs. The concern that with this is it will shut them out. And they use those profits to support local communities they serve.'"

-- These are minor details, remember he has a clever plan. They always think stuff out and check the facts, just look at Irish Drugs. Sorry visually imparted vendor you can now only put Sellout(TM) brand drinks in that machine.

Also if it does end up being Snapple and you can't buy caffeinated drinks at rest stops will Blagozo take the blame for the increase in traffic deaths due to sleepy drivers? ( a bit of hyperbolie there)

OneMan



OneMan

Reuters Editor's Email 'Sad But Revealing,' Pro-Life Group Says:

" A Reuters news service editor sent an e-mail to a pro-life group last week, criticizing the group's stance on abortion as well as its support of the Bush administration. The angry email has prompted the pro-life group to question the editor's journalistic integrity.
According to the National Right to Life Committee, the email came 'out of the blue' from Todd Eastham, a news editor for Reuters. Eastham was responding to a press release that the National Right to Life Committee sent to hundreds of news outlets after a federal judge in New York struck down a ban on partial birth abortion.
Eastham's email read as follows: 'What's your plan for parenting & educating all the unwanted children you people want to bring into the world? Who will pay for policing our streets & maintaining the prisons needed to contain them when you, their parents & the system fail them? Oh, sorry. All that money has been earmarked to pay off the Bush deficit. Give me a frigging break, will you?' "

For more on this go here (including the original press release and the actual e-mail response)

I guess I don't know whats worse the fact a Reuters editor felt he needed to send out this well thought out response using a Reuters e-mail account or the best argument for his abortion viewpoint is the savings in parenting and education expenses.

OneMan

For some examples on how Keyes is not getting it, go over to Arch Here and here, I love the second one because the only man who has been elected Governor 4 times in this state obviously has no clue about the people of Illinois.

I guess my Keyes vs. Obama point is that Keyes needs to be going after Obama on how Illinois is doing vs. the rest of the country and why Illinois is falling short. How Obama has had a chance to act, to speak up as a state senator and failed to do so.

Make Obama be specific, he has no need to be specific when all Keyes does is talk about social issues that most people in this state don't really worry about. Start asking more why questions.

Why are truck registrations down? Why is employment down in Illinois and what did help the state do to try and improve it? Why is he leading attacks on Outsourcing that are wrong?

That's what Keyes needs to do I am not holding my breath that it is going to happen.

OneMan

Barack Obama -- Illinois Families Lose More in Income than any Other State Over Last Three Years:

"CHICAGO State Senator Barack Obama (D-Chicago) today released the following statement about today's U.S. Census numbers, which show that the median income in Illinois fell by $5,752 from 2000-2003, the largest decrease in the nation.

According to U.S. Census figures released today, the median income in Illinois has fallen by $5,752 since 2000, the largest decrease in the nation.

This decrease in income is squeezing too many middle class Illinois families. The new jobs being created in Illinois pay much less than the jobs that are being lost, while fewer offer real benefits. Health insurance premiums and the cost of a college education have skyrocketed.

Meanwhile, during the past three years, corporate profits have increased more than sixty percent even as more companies continue to wring additional savings from employee health and pension programs, forcing a greater burden on their workers.

These numbers are further proof that our current tax code isn't working and that Illinois families are suffering. We need to fix our tax code so that it rewards companies who create jobs here in Illinois and America, and not companies that outsource American jobs overseas."

-- Funny you have been down in Springfield during that time. What have you done to encourage business in this state? What have you done to improve the tax code for business' and people during that time to encourage business or have you just kept your mouth shut as the state tried to tax business out of existance. What did you do to keep 17,000 truck registrations in this state? Then again giving tax breaks so they can film Barbershop 2 was an easy Yea vote.

Then again maybe I am getting bitter at this point.


OneMan

TheBostonChannel.com - News - Rising Star Obama Speaks On Martha's Vineyard:

"Rising Democratic star Barack Obama speaks out against racial and social divides in this country, while praising civil rights activists of the past."

-- Yeah, because a bunch of folks in a rich peoples enclave need to hear about racial and social divides. I am sure the Rich White Liberals really needed to hear that message. I suspect that next we will have him speaking about education issues in Malibu and gang violence in Kenelworth.

Too bad you don't see anything about this in the Obama Blog...

Update: A comment poster added this link to a local story about the event. There was a fundraising event involved beforehand but follow the link.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune | Weller will battle Ho-Chunk proposal:

"Flanked by Joliet-area leaders, U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller (R-Ill.) on Friday vowed to fight any special legislation to allow the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin to have property in Lynwood declared tribal land, the first step to building a casino there.

Weller said another casino in the region would jeopardize the two in Joliet and jobs in Will County. He said any gambling expansion--now on the table with Gov. Rod Blagojevich opening the door Thursday to more casinos to raise revenue--should be handled by the Illinois Gaming Board."

-- Because the key to economic growth is casino jobs....

OneMan

Blagojevich blissful for ignorance:

"The interesting thing was the newspaper asked the respondents whether they kept up on news coming out of Springfield during the marathon overtime session. The people who said they did not follow the news gave Blagojevich higher marks than the ones who said they did keep up on things."

-- Can you say Obvious...

There were some rumors going around that John Kerry was going to be at the Naperville Labor Day parade. I really don't associate Naperville with the American Labor Movement. I don't see it happening, I hear Obama is going to be in the parade and so will Keyes. So that could be interesting. OneMan will be there....

OneMan

Blagojevich Says He Might Expand Gambling:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich has said he is close to filling a vacancy on the Illinois
Gaming Board and he would consider expanding gambling to balance the state
budget.
But Blagojevich said lawmakers would have to agree to necessary
budget cuts before he would consider an expansion proposal. He added that any
new casinos would have to boost an economically depressed area and not
'fundamentally alter the landscape of the state.

-- Like anyone is going to fall for this again... Please. Remember The Land of Wayne Newton. Remember that he has floated this before and then shot it down after others worked on it. I don't see anyone bringing this up unless Blagozo signs a huge MOU. Budget cuts, remember it was the Senate & House Republicans and Mike Madigan that made him cut stuff this time.

Does he seriously think he has any credability on this subject anymore does he think no one remembers anything?


OneMan

tompeters! leadership training development project management: "Many/most engineers (and other literalists) more or less implicitly believe, I've observed, that if you collect the facts, arrive at a logical conclusion, and explain yourself in plain English you ought not be troubled by having to explain it or say it again. But the fact isin the Real World that there's only one operative rule: REPETITION RULES!"

-- I guess that is why it is hard for geeks in poltics sometimes.

Governor considers abolishing hospital construction board:

"Gov. Blagojevich is having such a hard time finding qualified people
to serve on a revamped state hospital construction panel that he may push to
scrap the board altogether -- a decision he plans to make by the end of the
year."

snip

Blagojevich said he plans to pick all new members to clear a backlog of
construction applications. On Aug. 9, he signed legislation shrinking the board
from nine to five members and implementing rules to guard against conflicts of
interest.

-- Funny he didn't have a hard time finding people who were donors to be on the board in the past. So I don't get this, is he going to fill the board with unqualified people to clear the 'backlog' or since he can't find anyone do we have to wait to clear the backlog?


So we now have to wait until the end of the year for a decision of even if the board should exist. Until then people who want to develop medical facilites will end up going to court and health care and construction jobs go uncreated because Blagozo can't fill a board.

Again folks there is a real economic cost to all this waiting around as well as health care services that are not going to be provided.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune Truck drivers, toll workers worried: "Truck driver Stanley Holmes had heard all the reasons for the drastic increase in tolls that is part of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's $5.3 billion plan to overhaul the 274-mile toll road system.

He wasn't impressed.

'You tell all the Democrats, Republicans, whatever they are, they're going to put the independent truck drivers out of business,' said Holmes, 51, a truck driver for more than three decades from Pamplin, Va. 'The tolls are going up. The gas is going up. It's tax, tax, tax. It doesn't make any sense. They're killing us.'"

-- Hey you are just another business, he likes to tax and fee businesses so he can spend more on cool stuff that impresses voters. It's not like he hasn't tried to stick it to trucks before perhaps if you complain loud enough and offer kids up to use in the background he might show up for a press conference and find a way to blame someone else.

Go read an online copy of JOHN KERRY'S THE NEW SOLDIER the book he wrote with Vietnam Veterans Against the War..

OneMan

Chicago Tribune Still no deal on Irish drugs:

"wholesale drug purchases from Ireland are a component of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's ambitious prescription drug importation plan, that country's major wholesalers all say they have not been contacted by the governor's office.

What's more, at least two of the three main firms that distribute drugs in Ireland say they would refuse to participate in Blagojevich's plan if asked.

'There would be too many issues concerning labeling and approval that would create difficulties in trying to have drugs licensed and sold in Ireland for sale in the United States,' said Pauline McAlester, a spokeswoman for United Drug, one of Ireland's major wholesalers.

A spokesman for another large wholesaler, UniPhar, said he was unaware of any contact with the governor's office about the plan.

Officials with a third wholesaler, Cahill May Roberts, could not be reached for comment Thursday. But Patrick Tracey, the company's managing director, told Dublin's Sunday Tribune that his firm had not been approached about the plan and would not provide drugs anyway because of concerns about labeling and approvals. In addition, Illinois' plan could create prescription drug shortages in Ireland, Tracey told the newspaper.

-- Tribune, Tribune, Tribune you need to stop asking questions about Blagozo's plan since he is smarter than all of us. I am sure all of these questions about who we are actually going to buy the drugs from and stuff have been covered. It's not like he screwed up selling and leasing back the Thompson center or anything, oh wait he did and it's gonna cost the state over $500,000.

Also it turns out Pfizer is preventing the UK from exporting it's drugs. Again I am sure they took this into account with the clever plan...

Trust him, this is really about more than just getting national play instead Obama. Really.

Chicago Tribune | Eric Zorn's Notebook:

"EEK!

In an e-mail, journalist Greg Palast sends his readers to the Republican National Committee site on the Web, which in turn directs readers to a Manchester Union Leader article warning that
People who hate Republicans plan to release swarms of mice in New York City to terrorize delegates to the National Republican Convention.

Republican-haters plan on dressing up as RNC volunteers, and giving false directions to little blue hair ladies from Kansas, sending them into the sectors of New York City that are unfit for human habitation.

They plan on throwing pies and Lord knows what else at Republican visitors to the city. Prostitutes with AIDS plan to seduce Republican visitors, and discourage the use of condoms.
The source of most of this is a column by liberal humorist Ted Rall that does not seem, on its face, to be satirical."

-- Well if you listen to this story on NPR it would appear that people are really planning to do that sort of stuff (it's near the end of the story). Fake maps, fake directions, etc...

OneMan

Go find out more about Swift Yacht Vets for Bush via Chill, good funny stuff. But then again having been sailing myself I have to say if you run out of beer and rum then the liberals win...

OneMan

As ArchPundit points out there is a new bama Ad. Not bad, him standing in front of a closed steel mill and pointing out he first came to Illinois 19 years ago (clever backhanded slap) was good but he looked a bit out of place wearing a suit while standing among weeds, sort of like Andy McKenna playing catch with a football while wearing a tie.

OneMan

No convention for Crane with Bean on the brain: "Rep. Phil Crane (R-Ill.), the most senior Republican in the House, is skipping the Republican National Convention next week in New York to focus on his rematch with Democrat Melissa Bean"

-- Interesting, at least it appears that Crane is now taking the race a bit more seriously.

OneMan

No convention for Crane with Bean on the brain: "New Illinois money group
Jeff Davis, who held the No. 2 spot in Republican Jack Ryan's ill-fated Senate race, filed papers with the IRS Friday to create what he hopes will be money pots aimed at electing more conservatives in Illinois. He formed the Empower Illinois Media Fund as a 501(c)4 (as mentioned above) and a related fund called Empower Illinois, organized as a 527 -- another section of the IRS code -- which can collect unlimited amounts of unregulated soft money.
'Are we going to talk about Barack Obama?'' Davis said of the Democratic Senate candidate. 'I am sure we will.''"

-- Cool

Chicago Tribune - Governor wants to overhaul toll system change rates:

"The centerpiece of the plan is replacing the plazas where drivers stop to toss coins into rows of tollbooths. Instead drivers would pass through arches that collect the tolls automatically through the electronic I-PASS system already used to collect nearly 50 percent of tolls.Drivers without I-PASS transponders would still be able to pay at tollbooths off to the side -- at twice the current cost. I-PASS users would see no increase in tolls which are generally 40 cents. Cars without I-PASS would pay 80 cents which Blagojevich said is still only half the national average."
"Trucks would also see their tolls climb. A truck with three or four axles would pay $2.25, up from about $1, and larger trucks would pay $4, up from about $1.50. However, the tolls would be lower for trucks traveling overnight, an incentive to reduce traffic during the busiest times.

-- So in a way charge out of staters and downstaters who don't drive the toll-roads as much so don't have I-PASS twice as much. Classic Blagozo, my question is how much sooner will 80 tolls come before toll arches?

The truck idea is interesting but then again he seems to have something against the trucking industry in this state. Also what sane trucker decidied to drive the tollway during the middle of the day if he has a choice?

OneMan

John Lennon sneakers - People - www.theage.com.au: "Beatles fans will soon be able to buy their very own John Lennon sneakers after Yoko Ono agreed to a deal with Nike to produce trainers featuring her late husband's image reports Hellomagazine.com. The shoe which is being manufactured by Nike's subsidiary Converse is in the same style as those worn by Lennon on the cover of the Abbey Road LP It features a self-portrait of the legendary musician on the side and the words Imagine All The People Living Life In Peace emblazoned across the toe."

-- This is wrong on so many levels, even to capitalist pig Republican OneMan. It is obvious that the dead can't haunt people because if they did the John would haunt Yoko...

Now for some Jokes
Do they only come in size 9
Are George Harrison work boots next
Imagine all the sell-outs

Cheney rejects gay marriage ban: "US Vice-President Dick Cheney has said he does not support a federal ban on gay marriage apparently contradicting President George W Bush's stance. Mr Cheney was addressing a campaign audience in Iowa that included his daughter Mary who is openly lesbian. He said the issue of legalising gay unions should be settled by individual states rather than by Washington. "


- I aggree with Dick Cheney on this one, cool. It will be entertaining to get Alan Keyes spin on this. I have blogged on this in the disant past...

OneMan

foxreno.com - Health - FDA Frets Illinois Plan May Usher In Unsafe Prescriptions:

"The federal government says Illinois' plan to help that state's residents buy prescription drugs from the United Kingdom may also allow imports from Europe's developing nations.
Blagojevich announced a plan last week to offer Illinois residents access to prescription drugs from Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. He said safeguards will be in place, like limiting imports to prescription refills. Generic drugs, narcotics or drugs that can spoil during shipping would not be allowed.

-- Hey the state knows what safe for you and it knows how to administer health care stuff, just look at the Medical Facilities Board. Perhaps the best answer for safety on this would be to just have a new board filled with people who 'just happen' to give Blagozo's campaign 25K.
OneMan

Barack Obama -- Obama Calls for Doubling of Ethanol Production for Gasoline by 2012: "today called for Congress to pass legislation doubling ethanol production for gasoline to 5 billion gallons by the year 2012. Doubling ethanol production. Obama said would create jobs here at home and make America less dependent on foreign oil."

-- And with a subsidy at 2002 levels it will would cost over $2.5 Billion dollars a year more. Also this same plan is referenced in the link of subsidy levels (note the article is from 2002) so this is not exactly an 'original plan'

From the same press release

It just makes sense to lessen our dependence on foreign oil and to promote renewable fuels that our state can produce in abundance. Families at the gas pump and farmers in Illinois cannot and should not have to wait any longer for relief. We cannot afford to let the oil industry's grab for billions more in taxpayer subsidies hold our nation hostage any longer."

-- However having to pay billions in direct subsidies directly to farmers would be just fine. Also as at least one study points out it takes a large amount of energy just to produce Ethanol in the first place. So there are going to be increased energy draws that will offset the energy gains from Ethanol A 2001 Report on the same subject shows that the gains without a subsidies are virtually a wash. Also the 'wait any longer' for relief sounds really nice but his own plan is at least 8 years out not exactly a quick fix.

Also from the same press release

According to a study by the Illinois Farm Bureau, this would reduce crude oil imports by 1.6 billion barrels while creating 214,000 new jobs here at home.

--You can find the Report Obama appears to be referring to here it appears it has since been updates since the as indicated bythis that references the relevant numbers. If you look at the original 2001 report that was updated here see page 19 for the job growth it would appear that most of the new jobs come from new economic activity.

Assuming that the US uses 360 million gallons of gas a day and roughly 2/3rds of a gallon of gas has the same energy as one gallon of Ethanol so 5 Billion gallons of Ethanol would equal roughly 10 days of US gas needs. Or about 2.7% of total US needs. Not exactly a plan for ending our dependency on the middle east.

I had even more on this but blogger ate it, so I am just going to go with this since I have read enough about Ethanol for one night.

I was listening to some Lyle Mays CDs for most of this....

OneMan

There is now a Draft Vallas Blog. I am torn between my feelings of Shadenfreud about the Democrats having a real primary battle, the desire to beat Blagozo during the general and the fact I actually think Vallas might do an ok job. Anyway go take a look.

OneMan

They have Episode 1 -- The Democratic Menace (actually more like the old School GOP menace) is up and on-line over at Cross TV. Looks like the gang at Rhodes School did a good job with it.

OneMan

Anyone want to buy me a ticket so I can go tonight. It looks like selling another copy of Dreams of My Father is not going to cover it. Or just buy a ticket and go yourself...

OneMan

As pointed out over the The Cross Blog Lisa Madigan is in a family way. I have to admin I wasn't a big supporter of Lisa, I felt some more legal experience would have been nice. I don't know if she surounded herself with smart people or is smarter than I gave her credit for but the Thompson Center objection and how she managed the blowback from the Blagozo was impresive as well as standing up to Blagozo on the Roesmont Casino.

Finally, I have mentioned this before but she was on a thing on the National Geographic channel about the vatican, she and her new husband were there along with other couples to get a blessing from the Pope. She never mentioned that she was the Attorney General of Illinois and seemed very down to earth. I have to give her credit for that as well.

OneMan

Ok, next question. Who challenges Blagozo in the primary in 2 years? Could it be Danny!, or just someone just put up by Madigan? How hard does Madigan try to cut Jones off at the knees?

Finally, can the Democrats play nice until November of will Obama mania start to wear thin and the sniping resume?

Less than one Day to Get your Own First Edition copy of Dreams of My Father

OneMan

Ok, now for some more of my standard uninformed opinion.

How Alan Keyes is going to end up helping the Republicans downticket. I think since it is going to be real obvious that Obama has this race in the bag and Kerry is going to have Illinois in the bag that Democrat turnout is going to be lighter than expected. Whereas the Keyes effect on moderate Republicans will keep some home, I think more are still going to go vote, just not for Keyes for Senate. So therefore in my twisted rationalization logic.

Keyes -- ends up keeping some Democrats home but keeping fewer Republicans home.

OneMan... Then again I might be nuts

Pantagraph.com - Opinion - Quip is still a bum steer :

"Sometimes politicians accidentally tell the truth when they are trying to make a joke. After Gov. Rod Blagojevich bought a steer at the Illinois State Fair's Sale of Champions he said his Chicago neighbors might be upset if they took Flushy the crossbred steer home. We could move him into the Executive Mansion particularly since we don't live there he added -- as a joke we think. To Downstate Illinoisans the minimal amount of time Blagojevich spends in Springfield is not a laughing matter"

-- Hey it does provide some insight about who he feels should stay in Springfield.... What a dope.

OneMan

News - Lake Zurich Courier: "Tom Adams past chairman of the Lake County Republican Central Committee concedes Democrats in Illinois are somewhat emboldened by the results of the 2002 election when Democrats won the governor's office and most other statewide offices. However he said in the past Republican candidates have done extremely well in Lake County. Traditionally our county has been a Republican county he said. Adams said the Republican Party statewide got a big boost in the last couple weeks when conservative talk show host Alan Keyes announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Illinois. "

-- A big boost, yeah a big boost in terms of what the heck were you thinking.... I have yet to have a single person come up to me and say they think picking Keyes was a good idea, lots of co-workers asking what the heck is going on, but not a single "Alan Keyes cool"

Perhaps I have a bias, but the quality of the ObamaBlog has seemed to have gone downhill. Then again some of the posts can be entertaining.

Chicago Tribune Voters rush past Keyes' favor Obama: "The poll suggests that Keyes' candidacy could hurt other Republicans in local and legislative races. Nearly three in ten voters said they were less likely to back GOP candidates because of the way party leaders went about settling on Keyes as their candidate though 59 percent said it would make no difference."

-- This is not good.

As someone pointed out to me, the difference between the extream wings of each party is that the Republican parts are well organized whereas the Democrat parts are so leary of any kind of organization (or just too stoned) to be nearly as effective.

OneMan

patriam magnae clunes mihi placent nec possum de hac re mentiri:

Truth!

Chicago Tribune Illinois panel keeps Nader off the ballot:

"Many Nader supporters are young and transient and there are other ways to verify a person's signature he said Attorney Gary Griffin representing the Board of Elections said There are a lot of ways to walk from our office to this building but it doesn't mean one way is more reasonable than the other."

-- Yes it does mean one way is more reasonable if I have to walk 12 miles and you have to walk 1 mile even if we start from the same point. I wish someone would have just said the state has an intrest in keeping third party candidates off of the ballot...

Let the man on the ballot, it's not going to make a huge difference, why do we make it so hard in this state for 3rd party guys to get on the ballot?

OneMan

Listening to NPR on the way home last night and they had a Keyes story, they mentioned how many things he had run for and lost, the story was about Keyes appearance at the State Fair so I don't see how the fact he has run for president and senate twice each and lost was relevant. They don't mention Obama's loss to Davis when they talk about him....

OneMan

See not everyone loves Obama...Chicago Tribune - Cops give Obama subdued reception:

"I don't see him as pro-law enforcement, said Wheaton police Chief Mark Field. I could spend hours with this man talking about his voting record. It is very anti-public safety.The crowd of 60 police officials applauded only once during Obama's 20-minute remarks. That was when Obama said he supported the repeal of a law that cuts Social Security benefits for police officers who receive pensions."

-- OneMan

I don't know about you but I think I am glad I missed Republican Day

"Perhaps summing up the temperament of the day was an address from U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood %28R-Ill.%29%2C who assured a sparse crowd at a noontime rally%3A %22Our party is not dead. Our party is alive"

-- I guess thats a start

I was listening to NPR this morning and they were talking about the protests that are planned for the GOP in NY, go see http://www.counterconvention.org/ for some scoop on that.

Anyway they talked about the protest fair they had with resources for the protesters. One woman was offering up a place to stay but she really wanted to offer it up to someone who had been disenfranchised in Florida, why do I sense the protesters are going to be to a large extent locals and college kids not 'disenfranchised Florida Voters'.

So I started looking at the list of available space, it's interesting to see the number of people who either have a sexual prefernce for their guest or prefer anarchists (do people who don't belive in athority really make the best houseguests) the large number of people who have cats and even people who would prefer you were a female vegan. It takes all kinds so it seems.

OneMan

Over at ROK, some brillant thoughts about what would happen if Blagozo stood up to entities besides the drug companies. Classic..

OneMan

Yahoo Iran warns of preemptive strike to prevent attack on nuclear sites: "Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani warned that Iran might launch a preemptive strike against US forces in the region to prevent an attack on its nuclear facilities. We will not sit with arms folded, to wait for what others will do to us. Some military commanders in Iran are convinced that preventive operations which the Americans talk about are not their monopoly Shamkhani told Al-Jazeera TV when asked if Iran would respond to an American attack on its nuclear facilities. "

-- Can you say October surprise. Can you say really, really, really bad idea...

OneMan

Chicago Tribune Drug plan is news to Ireland:

"Government officials and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland said Wednesday that it is illegal to mail-order prescription drugs in their country and that they were dumbfounded by Gov. Rod Blagojevich's plan to allow Illinois residents to buy cheaper prescription drugs from there."

-- Can you say awkward. When you have to have the press confernce to get some play so you can try to become the focus of the state party instead of Obama you don't have time to see if where you want to import drugs from actually allows it. Perhaps the Ireland thing was just a cheap ploy to get Irish votes in the city?

Good to see his plan has been well thought out so I am sure we can trust him with the whole safe thing too.

OneMan

OneMan

Come on people, if you really love Obama the bidding on Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama --First Ed would be well over $76.61.

Some commercials coming to your TV in 2006...
Fade in A young woman about 25-28 years old looks at the camera colors are kind of washed out.
Woman: He said it would save us money by getting Timmy's prescriptions from Ireland, he said it was safe.
VO: (older man) As Illinois allowed imported drugs more companies forced their employees to use the service as part of their health plans.
(image of Timmy playing in the back yard)
Woman: Timmy had an Asthma attack and so I grab his inhaler like normal but when he takes a puff it doesn't seem to work. We got Timmy's normal Asthma medicine in it's normal inhaler, so we thought. It turns out it was the wrong dose. It turns out it was the wrong medicine, fortunately we were able to get him to the ER in time.
When I called to find out what happened and what could be done (VT of woman on phone)it turns out the pharmacy in Ireland that made the mistake can't even be punished for it, they got a warning from the distributor. If a pharmacy in Illinois made that mistake they could lose their license.
I just wish they would have told us the risks....
VO: Governor Blago decided he knew better what made safe medicine, not the FDA and citizens of Illinois are paying the price for that decision every day with their health. Fade to Black

commercial Two...
Fade in a abandoned storefront in a small town in Illinois.
Woman: We used to have a pharmacy in town. You could go and get your prescriptions filled, they even sponsored a little league team. Then imported drugs from the state came and the volume at Edwards Drug store went down and Mr. Edwards couldn't stay in business anymore. You see the state didn't make all drugs available, just the popular ones. So Mr. Edwards still had to carry all sorts of drugs with all that expense he just sold fewer of them. So he had the same costs with less money coming in. You don't need an MBA to realize that's a problem.
Now we have to drive 30 minutes to get a prescription filled and it's even longer when the weather is bad...
VO: Since Illinois started importing drugs from around the world xyz pharmacies have closed in this state, making it harder for people like Lydia Wells to take care of her kids.

Well if Blagozo and Rahm Emanuel say it's going to be safe who am I to question since they are both experts at drug importation and drug safety right? The Sun Times article in the link did have this tidbit however

What's more, the state hasn't inked a contract with a company that will oversee the network of foreign pharmacies and drug wholesalers. And the list of the roughly 100 brand-name medications eligible for purchase hasn't been finalized.
Still, Blagojevich said the program should be up and running in about a month.

-- From no contract and I would assume no inspections to up and running in a month, yeah right and if something is going to slip is it the schedule or the inspections?

OneMan

Blagojevich buys grand champion steer: "Governor Rod Blagojevich is the proud owner of a 13-hundred pound steer named Flushy. Blagojevich submitted a winning bid of 96-hundred dollars for the steer in the Sale of Champions yesterday at the Illinois State Fair. The crossbred steer a Maine Anjou-Angus was originally sold for 25-thousand dollars to Mark Ray of Berwich. But Ray donated the animal back to the auction to raise more money. Blagojevich says he's not sure exactly what will happen to the steer."

-- So this way he shows in in touch with AG issues? I know one thing he will not need if for since Blagozo and his people are well known as the biggest sources of BS in the state.

OneMan

Cheney to headline Hastert fund-raiser:

"Vice President Dick Cheney has agreed to present the keynote address at U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert%27s annual Fox Valley fund-raiser this fall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. More than 2000 people are expected to attend the $150-a-plate reception which will be held Sept. 18 at the NIU Convocation Center."

-- Coool then I should get to see protesters. I didn't realize they announced Cheney's schedule so far in advance.

OneMan

Chicago Tribune : Lipinski son in race for House:

" unanimous voice vote of a Democratic slating committee college professor Daniel Lipinski the son of U.S. Rep. William Lipinski on Tuesday became his party's nominee for the seat his father is vacating The 3rd District has been very well served for many years said Daniel Lipinski in a nod to his retiring father. I want to successfully conclude all of the projects that have been started. I want to continue to provide the excellent service that the people of the district deserve."

-- Let me get this right, dad wins primary (again) then steps aside so they can slate his son to run for a very safe seat? Ummmm where are the outcries over this, I hear a lot of Alan Keyes is a carpetbager stuff, but nothing on this.

OneMan

Update:

Arch was nice enough to provide me with some other viewpoints on this follow the links (try the third one).

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-0408180313aug18,1,1118759.story?coll=chi-newslocalssouthwest-hed
http://www.suntimes.com/output/marin/cst-edt-marin18.html
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet17.html

This is getting play all over the place:

"Gov. Rod Blagojevich has made headlines for turning to Canada to try to get prescription drugs at lower prices for the state. Now he%27s looking beyond the nation%27s northern neighbor.%0D%0ABlagojevich on Tuesday plans to announce the creation of an online network of pharmacies through which Illinois residents can buy certain prescription drugs from Canada%2C Ireland and the United Kingdom - even though it is illegal to import such drugs into the United States."

-- Mrs. OneMan (who can write prescriptions) is a bit concerned about this. Going with the assumption that the drugs are truly the same (same dose size, exactly the same chemical makeup, etc). What happens when something is in fact wrong, wrong size of pill, wrong pills, etc. How long will it take to get any problem corrected and if something goes really wrong can these overseas pharmacies even be punished outside of being tossed from the program. Look at the Pharmacies and pharmacists who had license issues and/or reprimand in just one month (PDF see pgs 25-26). Now if this stuff goes on at a pharmacy in the UK can the state do anything is this stuff legal in Ireland, Germany?

That's some of the questions I have about the whole process.

OneMan

The Beacon News gives some love to the guys over at Tom Cross' Web site:

"JoinCross.com even features an 'official weblog' a sort-of politically themed online diary written by Cross staffer Chris Rhodes.
'You've got to roll with the changes,' the 46-year-old Cross explains. 'People of my generation go home and get their information from CNN or ESPN, but the generation below me goes home and gets it online.'"

-- Cool, Chris and the gang over at JoinCross seem to get it. Even Tom seems to get it.

ESPN.com - NCF - College Football Rankings:
Others receving votes....
" Northern Illinois 7, Texas Tech 7, Virginia Tech 6, Southern Miss 6, Mississippi 6, Marshall 6, Georgia Tech 5, Miami (OHIO) 4, South Carolina 4, Texas A&M 3, Arkansas 3, Bowling Green 2, Connecticut 1, North Texas 1, Penn State 1, Notre Dame 1."

-- As a NIU alum I just want to say... cool. Hey CR, I don't see U of I on the list at all...

OneMan

Tom Roeser has a column aboutHow the GOP ended up picking Keyes: with this nugget.

"''The second thing you might be interested in: We could have had another Alan: Alan Dixon! Steve McGlynn [party vice chairman, from Belleville] gave us an indication that he could be available. It never came to a vote, but my personal view is that Dixon -- at age 77, doesn't show his age, not a gray hair in his head and brimming with good health -- would have been a terrific challenger. Former senator, state treasurer, secretary of state. Not taking anything away from Keyes, but Dixon would really have been an astute choice. He needn't change his pro-choice position but would vote for all of Bush's judicial nominees."

-- We could have had Alan Dixon and we didn't go after him. A guy who had been in the senate a moderate liked downstate and we didn't go after it. Judy you some explaining to do...

I would suggest you read the whole thing but Keyes wants to end popular election of U.S. senators, I guess he has a point about Senators being elected by the legislature would then be more responsive to state government but sorry I think Arch has a point here about how the idea of the Illinois leg. being responsible for picking a senator is just scarry.

Will someone explain to me why this was a bright idea.:

"Standing outside the picnic grove along Barnes Road was a small group of Democrats, one of them carrying a sign reading 'Extremist Keyes Go Home.'
'We're here to protest Keyes, his right-wing agenda and all the rest of the Republican Party,' said one of the protesters, Paul Spangler. 'Bringing in an outsider like him who doesn't even live in Illinois is a pretty feeble attempt to try to overshadow all of Obama's successes.'"

-- Where do I start with this, ummm it was a Republican fundraiser by one the more conservative state senators, do you really think you will change people's minds? Secondly: 'Bringing in an outsider like him who doesn't even live in Illinois is a pretty feeble attempt to try to overshadow all of Obama's successes.' sounds like a fine whine to me. Last time I checked I haven't heard or read about Obama's stuff having Republicans protesting outside. Obama's successes? Not to sound like the Obama Truth Squad but what successes? He won a primary where the front runner imploded, if Blair Hull knew how to treat women he would have won the nomination, not Obama. Secondly his record I don't know lets look at Energy or Education. Democrats, your guy is in the lead, do yourself a favor an act like it. As for the carpetbagger stuff, carpetbagger in NY good (Hillary) carpetbagger in IL bad (Keyes).

OneMan

NBC tries to show how easy it is to 'Highjack' a helicopter and it turns out that FBO (fixed based operatiors) have brains, realize something is amiss, stalls the guys and calls the FBI and dudes get taken away.

Why do I think it is unlikely this will make the nightly news and even more unlikely that NBC is going to cover the costs to the FBO, local police or the FBI. For more read this.

Too bad we couldn't get her for the Senate Race....If you're not voting for Bush or Kerry, vote Barbie - Aug. 13, 2004: "No. 1 toy manufacturer Mattel Inc. (MAT: Research, Estimates) launched a presidential campaign for its popular fashion doll at the flagship Toys R Us (TOY: Research, Estimates) store in Manhattan's Times Square on Thursday. ".

At least one guy in the NYT agrees with meThe New York Times > New York Region > News Analysis: For McGreevey, Personal Crisis, but Old Theme of Patronage:

"'What it reminds me of is Richard Nixon, the Checkers speech or some of the stuff during Watergate,' said Steven Cohen, a professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.
But he saw already the contrast in the words spoken by the governor and at least some of the reasons for the sudden announcement: 'The gender of the person he had the relationship with is irrelevant,' he said. 'The problem is putting a lover on the payroll in some fashion.'"

-- The state shouldn't pay for your date. (That rhymes)

The fact that the mayor is so powerful he can get into a war with the cities largest media company is interesting...Chicago Tribune | WGN work halted over lack of permit: "The city on Thursday shut down a construction site at WGN-TV's North Side studios in a regulatory action that Chicago Buildings Commissioner Stan Kaderbek insisted had nothing to do with any ill will between City Hall and Tribune Co."

-- Yeah, it had nothing to do with the Trib asking for information about the condition of city hall which had nothing to do with the mayor asking questions about Wrigley Field

The NJ thing Chicago Tribune | New Jersey governor to quit over gay affair:

"Two sources close to McGreevey, both speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press the man involved in the affair was Golan Cipel, 33, an Israeli poet who worked briefly for the governor.

Shortly after taking office, McGreevey hired Cipel to be his lead homeland security adviser. But because he was not a U.S. citizen, Cipel could not receive clearance from the federal government to review classified information. He resigned from the $110,000-a-year job within a month, leaving the state payroll later in 2002."

-- A few comments here, he shouldn't regsign because he is gay. He should resign if he hired his boyfriend to an important state job he was unqualified for because he was his boyfriend.

If there is going to be a special election comming up I have a candidate that will be free after November.

OneMan

The Join Cross Guys have a cartoon of the boss. . I think something more along these lines, might be cool. Make him with Blue Hair and Cool boots. They also mention some sort of 'game' hopefully it will have lasers and stuff.

OneMan

Via Arch from Salon

"A screeching religious right fanatic, Keyes, who has worn a lapel pin featuring the feet of a fetus, is Jerry Falwell as played by Little Richard"

-- Sorry being pro-life does not make you a religous right fanatic. That sort of like saying a Phish listening left wing nutjob. A does not follow B. Note: I am complaining about Salon's treatment of this not Arch's

OneMan

Over at RandomActOfKindness: Jeff has some interesting stuff about Keyes new pad and when he knew it was his pad and when his stuff was filed.

"It was announced last Wednesday that Alan Keyes had NOT accepted the nomination yet and would think about it before announcing his decision on Sunday, August 8th. This Resolution to Fill Vacancy form filed with the State Board of Elections says otherwise, as it was signed, notarized and dated (supposedly) on August 4th, which was last Wednesday. "

-- Interesting.

Don't know why the stuff on the side and bottom is failing to display. I'll give blogger some time to deal with it, I think they are having a moment....

Weclome to the club Jim... Keyes makes Thompson 'uncomfortable':

"Former Gov. James R. Thompson refused to endorse Republican U.S. Senate nominee Alan Keyes on Wednesday, saying some of Keyes' stands on the issues made him 'uncomfortable.'"

-- Read the entire thing it's interesting to get Big Jims view on things.

Sneed offers sone Insight:

"Sneed hears the real engineer behind the selection of recent Republican U.S. Senate contender Alan Keyes was state Sen. Dave Syverson, with the help of state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger and U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald."

-- Now at least we know who to 'Thank' later.

According to Chris Lauzen's web site Alan Keyes will be at the Porky Picnic between 4:00 and 8:00 PM. So perhaps you can go wipe his brow or something and make some money on ebay.

OneMan

Glad he found time to get around to it SJ-R.COM - Blagojevich sacks health board: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich removed all seven members of the state's troubled Health Facilities Planning Board on Monday and said he would appoint a new board by the end of the month."

-- Wonder how many construction workers and health care workers sat idle while he diddled around waiting to do this. The legislation wasn't just passed on Monday.

OneMan

This is what happens when you flood a market, prices go down. Kind of sad, since the two new copies I found from a on-line bookseller were set to arrive today. Think I might just hold on to them and get the signed and wait for him to run for president and sell them to send the kids to college...
Seriously, one guy is selling three copies, is that a good idea from a supply and demand viewpoint, no.

OneMan

Sneed is nice enough to offer Keyes new address:

"Republican U.S. Sen. hopeful Alan Keyes registered to vote Monday, listing his address as 502 Garfield Ave. in Calumet City." As you can see if the link works, he is about 4 blocks from the Indiana border just incase another Senate seat opens up also it keeps him fairly close to Maryland.

Just wonder when Sneed will publish the home addresses of the other Candidates? Yes, I know they are on line at the state board of elections....

OneMan

Alan Keyes has found a place to live: Since he decided to live in Calumet City. It makes you wonder if he got his ideas about Chicgo from The Blues Brothers. I hope he Doesn't go looking for the "St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud" Orphanage or Ray's Music Exchange he will be disapointed.

Perhaps he can get a gig at Bob's Country Bunker....

OneMan

Ok, at least he didn't say "The poodle is the black man of the dog world”, so we got that going for him. If you can't afford the napkin, perhaps you can buy this and be reminded of earlier times.

Really off the normal political stuff but this is the funniest Strongbade-mail ever and if you have no idea who Strongbad is now would be a good time to find out.

OneMan

Ok for all of your 'Keyes is scary' and a version of the Alan Keyes truth squad go over to Archpundit. This isn't intended as a slam on Arch, Keyes needs to be vetted and things he has said and done should be shared within a larger audience. If I feel that is necessary for Obama I would agree the same is needed for Keyes.

That having been said, Keyes is the nominee of my party and as a party official (all be it a minor one) I need to step up and support him, note I said support not necessarily agree with.

One difference I have with Keyes is the role of religion and government. Keyes has been quoted in more than one source as arguing the first amendment applies to the federal government, but not to the states. Applying this argument to such issues as the ten commandments in public courts.

First a moment of disclosure here, I the equivalent of an Elder in a conservative Lutheran Church. So this next statement may surprise you a bit.

Please keep government out of my church and I will be happy to keep my church out the government. As a Republican I am naturally suspicious of any time the government steps in to a given area of life. To think that religion could influence government without government having an influence on religion is absurd.

Your faith should be something that goes with you and is a part of your everyday life. I don't need to see the ten commandments on some large piece of granite to realize that murdering my neighbor is wrong. You want to use your faith as a guide in your life, even your public life cool, want to make your faith government policy, no thanks.

You can't legislate morals, they are something that you learn and something you chose to follow for various reasons. Not because the law requires you too. If you could legislate morality, I would be all for it.

More to come

OneMan

Didn't get a chance to make it over to the Keyes thing today after-all something came up. Just got home in fact so no deep Keyes thoguts tonight. Too tired, long day.

Last post for the night. I hope to make it to the Alan Keyes thing tomorrow. I suspect if you read this blog often you may have figured out that Keyes and I are different Republicans in some ways. I will be offering up my thoughts on that down the road. As a party offical at the township level I have a responsibility to work for all candidates from my party. However I do not have a obligation to agree with them.

So I may have some thoughts on the Keyes event and some thoughts on Keyes.

OneMan

From the Socialist Worker The Democrats war on Nader:
Note: They had in Italics the part I bolded, however the fact that the Socialist Worker is citing the Illinois Leader is proof that the internet and politics make strange bedfellows.

"TO GET on the ballot in Illinois, Ralph Nader has to submit 25,000 valid signatures of registered voters--five times the requirement for the Democrats and Republicans. In June, the campaign submitted 33,000 signatures--usually more than enough to qualify. But then the state's Democratic Party machine got to work.
The Nader campaign recently discovered that many of the 'volunteers' sitting in for the Democrats to challenge signatures in June and July include full-time state employees, part-time state contractors and interns. The Illinois Leader, which examined the sign-in sheets for the Cook County Clerk's Office and the Chicago Board of Elections during the weeks of the Nader petition challenge, found the names of 20 employees of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan's office. "

More than anything else the fact I found one thing with a Nader, Illinois Leader and Socialist Worker reference blows my mind.

OneMan

Crains has something about flying Air Blagozo here are some highlights.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is taking full advantage of a treasured Springfield perk, offering convenient, low-fare travel on state-owned airplanes to political backers.....

Under state Transportation Department rules, political users pay 75 cents a mile. That's well above the 41 cents a mile a state agency is billed when one of its workers flies, but still generally a good deal compared with commercial airline rates.....

On another occasion, Mr. Kelly and Kelly Glynn, head of the governor's campaign committee, Friends of Blagojevich, accompanied Gov. Blagojevich on a Chicago-to-Champaign trip. Ms. Glynn flew one way, on the return leg of the trip, paying $88.50, according to Transportation Department flight logs; Mr. Kelly paid $177 round-trip. But American Eagle, the only commercial carrier serving the route, this week quoted a price of $383.70 for the same round-trip.

Read the entire thing, I don't want to violate Crain's copyright on the thing. It's a rather in-depth piece with several examples.

Nice that the governor with a 10 million dollar war chest has to have the taxpayers of this state subsidize his political flights. Again kids this is the 'No More business as Usual' governor, illustrating yet again that he is all about business as usual.

OneMan

Ok found this link which kind of explains Blagozo's involvement SJ-R.COM - Mongo trial to begin on Governor's Day:

"The day after Mongo was disqualified, Blagojevich said, incorrectly, that the steer had been fed steroids. He also implied that the Grays had tried to cheat to win the grand championship.
Blagojevich also joked about the controversy in his budget speech, saying he planned to transfer authority over land and water resources from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Natural Resources in order to 'help us pay the damages we now owe Mongo.' (The transfer never took place.) "

Now that's interesting. Could the governor have slandered or libeld (I am not sure which) a steer and by proxy it's owners? Could in fact an alleged Bum Steer lead to his downfall (I couldn't pass up the pun)...

Attorneys subpoena Blagojevich in case of disqualified champion steer: "SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Attorney for the owners of Mongo have summoned Governor Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vitch) to testify in a case that seeks compensation for the steer's disqualification from last year's Illinois State Fair.
Officials stipped Mongo's championship away after learning its owners had given him banned medicine to treat a sore hoof"

-- I really hope they make his testify, I have no idea why he would but to hear about Blago talk about this would be worth a trip just to go hear it.

OneMan

From US News via Free Public McCain: Hanoi Hilton Jailers Used Kerry Speech Against Us. A look at how the words of various US figures including Kerry were used as propaganda on US POW's during Vietnam. Also take a look at the comments about the story. A lot of anger at McCain. I don't get that at all. McCain has a right to say he feels the swift-boat guys are out of line and the swift boat guys have a right to say. Considering what one site is claiming about one of the co-authors of the book (via Archpundit, via others) it is interesting the anger the posters at freepublic are tossing a McCain.

Sorry, I have a bias here. I am a big John McCain fan and have a lot of respect for the guy in a lot of ways.

Anyway follow the links.

OneMan

To quote two of the greatest thinkers ever from Aurora (where OneMan is based out of) Wayne and Garth....

"Were not worthy, were not worthy"

Chris Rhodes at the guys at JoinCross.com and by extension Tom Cross get it. Go watch the trailer at
JoinCross.tv!

Sweet man, Some Republicans are starting to get it.

OneMan

FYI: The post came well before the blog-ad.

I was listening to Dr. Milt last night on WGN and he said he planned on voting for Keyes. Interesting that at least one guy in the media is willing to admit who he would vote for.

TheQuad-City Times : Has an interesting piece about what may come next in Blagozo vs. Madigan. I sure hope this plays out.

It is conceivable, given the confrontational style of Blagojevich and his handlers, that the governor could go nuclear on Madigan. The speaker will be most vulnerable next January, when he presumably will be seeking re-election to the House helm; the governor already has signaled he wants to cut into Madigan's base by wooing potential mutineers with bounty for their campaign coffers. But it would be the riskiest of gambits. Success would give Blagojevich near supremacy; however, failure would be far more likely, and it could gut his governorship and conceivably strengthen Madigan's bonds with Republicans who might well be willing to help him hold power."

-- I say go for it Blagozo we all know you and your guys are smarter than anyone else in the room...

From the CAPITOL FAX HOME PAGE:

"GOVERNOR PAYS BACK LOAN (excerpt) Not long after the March primary, Governor Rod Blagojevich finally paid back the money he owed radioactive US Senate candidate Blair Hull. The guv's campaign fund borrowed $200K from Hull during the '02 campaign. Blagojevich still owes $350,000 to companies controlled by adviser/fundraiser/operator Chris Kelly."

-- He raises 5 million and still can't or won't pay back a 350K loan? Is it a good idea to owe people money that like Blagozo?

From a TV Station WQAD In cash quest, Blagojevich relies on companies with government ties:

"Governor Rod Blagojevich is getting help from political insiders and state contractors in his drive to raise campaign money.
They are paying for him to travel, providing hotels and meals -- even paying for cigars to give away at campaign fund-raisers.
For instance, the Wilton Partners company runs rest stops on Illinois tollways. It also provided 35-thousand dollars worth of transportation and lodging during a Blagojevich fund-raising trip to Los Angeles."

-- Remember he is supposed to be the anti-'business as Usual' governor. Sorry this is business as usual and then some. Give me a break...

A $20 million war chest may stop a primary challenge at this point I still think Lisa is going to come after you, regardless the GOP is going to come after you hardcore in two years.

OneMan (Listening to Fight the Power by Public Enemy)

Now they are going to court to end the health care board freeze.

"Prism Healthcare Group, the nursing home partnership, was set to buy nursing homes in Sterling and Morris, and needs a type of board approval that amounts to a technicality, said Joseph J. Cecala Jr., the lawyer who filed the petition.

Prism's financing commitment expires Saturday, Cecala said, and the investors stand to lose a large amount of money if the $15 million deal cannot be closed."

-- Yet more victims because Blagozo can't appoint a board without it being riddled with problems. Again the shutdown is costing people money, construction workers, health care professionals, health care users.

Perhaps it would help if they gave 25K to Blagozo's campaign fund? Oh yeah campaign donations have nothing to do with board appointments.

We are starting to see real victims of this, it is time to act Blagozo.

OneMan

I just ran accross an old post of mine pointing out how I got my copy of Dreams of my Father for $15.90 from bookfinder.com back in March. Sold it for more than that on ebay last week. Should have ordered 10 copies and cornered the market..Sigh...

OneMan

ABCNEWS.com : Illinois GOP Asks Keyes to Run for Senate: "Illinois Republican leaders asked two-time presidential hopeful Alan Keyes on Wednesday to be their Senate candidate, but like a string of previous possibilities, Keyes said he needed a few days to think about it.
Keyes told a news conference Wednesday night that he would make an announcement by Sunday."

-- Please tell me the few days to think about it is just to build some drama, please tell me the party has some secret better plan. Finally what happens if he ends up saying No? What was wrong with the cement guy?

OneMan

According to the Leader, it's going to be Alan Keyes. No wonder I felt really bad earlier tonight, it was my GOP sense having a reaction. At least the right wing of the party should be happy.

OneMan

Alan Keys? Is this really the answer? Get a guy from out of state because he is African American? This is our plan? Get a guy who is too the right of just about eveyone in this state?

What's the plan here? To win, place or just show? I realize that Obama is a good debater but is that going to be the key to the election? Doubt it...

OneMan

Alan Keys, wouldn't JC Watts return our calls? Come on give me a break, he couldn't win in Maryland and he is going to have a shot here in Illinois? Is this really the best we can do, how about we see if Carl Weathers will follow in the footsteps of his Predator co-starts Arnold and Jessie Ventura?

Why Carl as Apollo Creed and other charaters he has performed as would be a good choice.

• In Rocky I his desire to give the disadvantaged a chance.
• In Rocky II how to give those who had one chance another chance.
• In Rocky III how to regain the 'Eye of the Tiger' lord knows the party needs to get that back
• In Rocky IV he pays the ultimate price vs. Ivan Drago in a cold war showdown.
• In Action Jackson how to deal with unfair business activities, as well as providing 'action'.
• And he once appeared on S.W.A.T!

'Nuff said

OneMan

FYI, also not OneMan:

"Spotted outside the Union League Club: A man saying he was a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, negotiating with a security guard to get in the building. The man was wearing Lederhosen and carrying a knapsack and a big rolled up flag, undetermined country of origin. One observer thought it might have been the Croatian flag. The man was denied entry."

nor am I

Daniel Vovak’s website is www.airfordone.com. His business card slogan is, “Small ideas for government.” He said he is living out of his car. He often wears a white Colonial powdered wig, but he did not wear it today. He said he could wear it if the SCC wants to see it.


-- I don't wear Lederhosen, I prefer more of the green jacket like the dad in The Sound of Music wore...

OneMan

Illinois Conservative Politics: "Prospective candidate Jim Oberweis is there with an assistant carrying, 'Mexican Americans for Oberweis' signs."

-- Bet that's a big group...

Star Democrat Obama now a best-selling author, too:

"The first edition of the U.S. Senate candidate's Dreams From My Father had started at $20 on eBay, but after 28 bids on the Internet auction site, it was up to $255 Monday evening.
At a campaign stop, Obama noted that a new edition is coming out Aug. 10 -- ''not a moment too soon. I don't want people spending that much for my book.''"

-- That's it stiffle free enterprise... I have already sold one copy on ebay for $250 and am looking forward to getting a second copy to sell. Why not let the market decide? If I can find people willing to pay that kind of money for it, why tell them not to spend that much.

Yet another example of a Democrat trying to keep the small businessman down ;-)

OneMan

The scary thing is I am even starting to think I may be the only choice at this point as well. The only thing I hope doesn't come out of this is a right wing take over of the party.

Took the kids to the Kendall County fair this weekend, they had a good time and dad got to see some interesting stuff. For example it appears that the Kendall County GOP didn't even have a booth at the fair (if they did I couldn't find it and I tried looking for it)the Kendall Democratic Party had a booth and it was manned.

There was some GOP presence at the fair, there were 'Thank You' signs for Chris Lauzen and Cong. Hastert had a booth (more office stuff than political) and the Republican state rep had a booth in the corner of the 4-H building that had A/C.

I also saw Ruben Zamora getting ready to work the crowd at the fair. He is the guy running against Hastert. Imagine that a guy running against Denny Hastert was working the county fair in Hastert's home town and seemed to have a group of at least 10 people with him. (They were all wearing the same blue shirts)

This now turns into a Rant that wasn't my plan but it did so I am going to keep it as such.

Think about this, not just the guy running for congress but others felt it was worth the time and effort on a Saturday to work the county fair in the hometown of the incumbent he is running against who happens to be Speaker of The House with a very safe Republican seat.

I don't think Denny is at any risk... However the fact the Democrats 'brought it' to the Kendall county fair shows that the Democratic party is going to be very aggressive in Illinois.

Republicans need to realize all this sniping about who the party chair is, who is a RINO and all of that other BS needs to stop now. Perhaps there is a time and place for that, but this is not it. Just because someone is not socially conservative enough for your taste is not reason to sit on your hands.

We need to go to freakin work. Go over to Join Cross, go over to GOP Team Leader.

It is time to demonstrate that it is not just Democrats who get the blogging thing in this state. Republicans need to realize the internet is useful for more that just complaining about how person X or Y is not conservative enough or that the state is trying to take your land away.

We need to use blogs and other internet resources to build up skills, to motivate people. Will a really good blog convince those who think you are wrong, perhaps a few. Will even a mediocre blog (as long as it is read) help motivate people on your side (you bet). Can it hurt, unlikely.

Start blogging GOP, start cross linking, heck start linking to Tom Cross. We are behind on this stuff, look at the Obama blog, it gives locations where you can go help out. Is there a single Republican candidate who does this in this state? Doubt it.

It can be done, send me an e-mail and if you ask nice will try and help you if you want to do it.

OneMan

Whew.. I wrote this while listening to a Pat Metheny guitar CD (One Quitet Night), glad I wasn't listening to something that rocks or I wound still be typing

Update: 8/2/2004 Rick has some more examples of how to do it. He also makes me realize what I have done for my local party group needs help. I might even try using that Dean tool now that would be ironic.

Thanks to Chris and the Cross guys for linking to the rant. They get it, now we need to help others do the same.

From DRUDGE : "The Speaker of the House will push for replacing the nation's current tax system with a national sales tax or a value added tax, Hill sources tell DRUDGE.

'People ask me if I'm really calling for the elimination of the IRS, and I say I think that's a great thing to do for future generations of Americans,' Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert explains in his new book, to be released on Wednesday."

-- Who Does he think he is Teve Torbes? Interesting idea however. I am not an economist so I have no idea what this means in the long term. His book comes out Tuesday, hope to go to the signing on Friday..

OneMan

>Via the Obama Truth Squad Chicago Foes out to prove Obama not alone -- The Trib figures out the Obama has people running aginst him after all...