The Blog

The 'health-care governor'? That's funny. How about holding off on that encomium until he proves capable of running the state in such a way that his pet legislation is worth the paper it's printed on? I mean, it's not like the state is having a hard time paying medical bills or anything.

Jan Shakowsky should get her husband Bob Cramer with Rod Blagojevich to get a in prison strategy. We need a recall. Pat Quinn would be a good governor. Jan Shakowsky is too corrupt to be Senator, even in Illinois.

Watch this video with insider Tom Carey. Fascinating. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3561302525834861971

I would give O'Bama's spot to Senator James DeLeo. He is just like O'Bama , Above the waiste Irish, below the waiste Black!

What ever happened to the idea of championing a citizen legislature? Wasn't the intention of our founding fathers to create a system to avoid a permanent political class from dominating the electorate? Jan Shakowsky is, arguably, one of the least accomplished and unqualified individuals to consistently seek higher and higher office since Barack Obama himself (who will not be elected President because his experiences don't merit giving him that position). That the other alternatives are individuals like Jackson Jr. and Dan Hynes (two individuals who owe their seats in government to the sense of birthright all too prevalent in IL politics) is a sad statement of the state of affairs within the IL Democratic Party, but the even sadder state of affairs is the Republicans won’t recruit and support a candidate who should be able to beat such weak candidates. My suggestion to the IL Republican Party is to convince someone like retired General David Grange, president and CEO of the McCormick foundation and founder of ViaGlobal Group, to run in the unlikely event that Obama should win the presidency. Voters in IL can then begin to have opposition to the thoroughly corrupted Democratic Party by having a Republican Party that is beginning to rebuild itself by seeking citizens outside of the corrupted ranks of the IL Republican Party that led to its own demise. The notion that Shakowsky is a progressive who has backed change is laughable. The idea that the sheeps within the Democratic Party are going to insist on accountability from the many elected representatives who consistently violate the basic principles of their ideals and platform is equally laughable. I am told that Shakowsky is fond of asking if those within Democratic politics are seeking to be someone, or to do something? What exactly is she seeking to do that she can’t as a congresswomen? She has a history of few legislative accomplishments, but always seeking leadership positions within her caucus and looking out for herself at the expense of her constituents.

Maybe all these politicians should start sucking up to the voters. That is what is wrong with politics in IL - they all suck up to idiots like Blago and Quinn, and especially Daley, that the voters are left out. Who ever is appointed should be voted out in the election. We have lived without representation for the past 3 years while Obama has been busy running for president, we can live without representation for some time longer. These kingmakers might want someone to suck up to them, but the voters are the only ones who can empower these folks. I hope they won't be railroaded yet again. I would rather see my neighbor in the Senate than any of the current elected officials this state has.

"I suppose there's nothing wrong with a politician being ambitious..." That is all these politician's are, ambitious. Too bad their record of accomplishments don't merit their ambition.

The operative principle in appointments is self-interest. Should Obama become President, Blagojevich will appoint a replacement who, in turn, promises to replace Patrick Fitzgerald.

She thinks it's "unseemly and untimely" to do much beyond stating her interest? OMG, that's funny. She's done more than talk. She's been angeling for this seat for more than a year (search Schakowsky on this blog). Whatever we might think about our Governor, Rep. Schakowsky knows the only shot she has of ever becoming a U.S. Senator is to get appointed. And for that she needs--not just any Governor--but THIS Governor. Could explain why she's worked so hard to get her friends to donate so generously to this dumb-ass Governor. She may be a lousy progressive but she's not dumb; she knows how business is done in Illinois. And we thought our Governor was only auctioning off board seats. I'm afraid that was merely the smoke, folks.

Jan Schakowsky is one of the most radical members of Congress.It will be interesting to see is the ethically challenged voters of Illinois would want Schakowsky as a Senator.Maybe,Schakowsky could explain why her Congress district recently made the top 10 for population decline.Also,Schakowsky seems to be a socialist sympathizer giving speeches in front of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America.

The "Evil Overlord" Daley is poised to steal more parkland. Daley is proposing to steal land in Jackson Park to build a 20,000 seat hockey stadium. Daley's Flunky Tim Mitchell is trying to replace the the Jackson park advisory council,with a puppet council,that will approve the theft.

Where are you COCO-MAN when we need you. Put on your cape and do battle with the evil one.

Coco man went out on a limb and supported Hilliary at the start of the campaign. He know politics, but Daley's guy is doing a good job. Clinton has a big butt, just axe Jesse J. Jr. Jackson will be the next senator, I set this up 4 real.

Get some young blood in these offices. There has to be some younger people running for office to get rid of all the tainted people running the ship now. Its always the same old stuff from the same set of people who are pushed higher up the ladder, who don't offer anything new. Aren't there ANY new people out there? the people we are stuck with are all part of the small group.

Jan's husband con artist Cramer is a convicted felon for kiting checks. Jan is a racist. Jan oppossed all the Hispanics in the last election. She voted to recognize Ramadan but not Christmas. Jan hates Christians and is a radical left communist.

I hope she wouldn't appoint Larry Suffredin as the US Attorney--it really would be pay to play than. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY FOR LARRY AND JAN AND BOB

When I get my 75 gees. I am going to the Purple motel for some fun. Or Vegas.

Jan Schakowsky is a crook and liar.

Jr. better stat in his district if he wants to keep a job. No one in the city likes him and after he tried to shoved his Boyfriend Kenny Johnson down our throat, many on the southside can't wait to kick him out of office. I will vote for Mickey Mouse before I elect him Senator...Who else agrees??

TIM MITCHELL FOR US SENATOR 2ND CHOICE RON THE BUTTERFLY HUBERMAN

COCO-CLOWN is going to run for a LLC seat on one of the public school in edison park.He would probabily lose that election also.

Bridgeport, I'm not running for LLC in Edison Park, But I will run to the Bank after Noelle Brennan and Mike Shakman cleared my name!

you da man coco!

Chicago already has a handgun ban. Chicago already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Washington DC has some of the strictest gun laws in the country with the commensurate highest gun crime and murder rates. Handguns except with some exceptions like alderman, police officers, some security guards, and a hand full or grandfathered in people from decades ago–Nobody can own a handgun in the city of Chicago not even in their own home for personal protection. An Army Reservist in Chicago,trained and certified in weapons, cannot own a military weapon in Chicago even for target practice. It is illegal. It can be a felony under certain circumstances. Yes, guns are a problem. But yes, there is a legitimate and not dangerous according to statistics hunting and outdoors culture in many parts of the United States and not just rural parts. When I was in the Boy Scouts I shot 22 caliber and shotguns and nobody ever died and it was a skill, taught discipline and was useful in Army Basic training. Some Chicago Public High Schools used to have firing ranges with zero fatalities, no accidents, no shootings, no killings, no suicides. To teach respect for a weapon, safety, and markmensship is good. Too many kids who get illegal (Read: already illegal) weapons do not know safety or how to properly use them and have no respect because of our culture both the culture of violence and lack of respect for life and the complete ban culture which makes weapons even more attractive. What about an old lady who uses a weapon for personal security (like cases you have heard on the news about an old lady shooting a robber and the State’s Attorney could charge her) or one of these Arab or Korean(or any ethnic group) store owners who has a weapon when he takes the cash at night to make a night bank deposit? These are criminals? There is a different culture in Southern Illinois and rural areas. It does have less murders and crime. (although that is changing with Crystal myth and the hip-hop rap culture of stupidity gripping now maybe 2 generations even white kids in rural areas) They are getting more gangs because of a bad urban influence. There are hunting accidents. There are idiots who hunt drunk. There are the tragedies like in Wisconsin and Minnesota where Hmongs and Whites have killed each other although rare at least 2 high profile incidents. There are accidents where tragically kids get guns. But there is also millions maybe tens of millions or hundreds of millions over time that hunt, fish, outdoors, target shoot, skeet, shotgun, different animal hunting, bow hunting, military, former military, gun collectors etc. These are good law abiding citizens. Gun laws will not stop the horrible tragedy of the young man who got hit with a baseball bat and was killed who was a good boy and a good boxer. I don’t want to sound cliche about banning baseball bats. Many of these other high profile shootings would of not been stopped by the one gun a month law or any other gun laws as they were not (in some cases) automatic weapons and were not bought legally. These already are illegally bought or stolen guns. These weapons are already out on the streets. The march by Jesse Jackson and Fr. Pleger dealt with a manufacturer of weapons that does not sell to civilians, certainly it would be nice to turn our AK-47s into plowshares but the problem is that law enforcement and military need them against gangs, terrorists, other countries etc. It is a naive approach that is not really dealing with the problem. Chicago Democrats really crack me up as they always have exceptions and prove that they are not only hypocrites but that guns do work to deter crime. Alderman carry weapons. All of the Daley family, kids, inlaws, even the grandmother while alive had ARMED police officer bodyguards. Alderman Ed Burke has armed police officer bodyguards and he himself carries a weapon. Alderman Tillman carried a weapon. Governor Blagojevich has State Police officers who carry weapons. It is the 11th ward precinct captains who illegally carry weapons, and city workers, and 19th ward sherriffs who legally carry but abuse it in shooting innocents. Why can’t law abiding citizens who are trained use a weapon? Switzerland has the highest rate of weapons per capita and mandates automatic weapons to be carried and in the homes of their milita. Go to the 41st ward (one of the safest, cleanest, and least crime, gun violence, and murders) in the city of Chicago–and it has high rates of gun ownership albeit with Chicago Police officers (some good, most good but also some bad), their families, wives, kids–the point being that number of weapons and access to weapons does not mean high crime. A pure correlation even if you disagree with causation. Lastly, not just the U of C studies, the Lott studies, the Dan Polsby studies at Northwestern but the FBI statistics state that when states (now many of them) have had concealed carry that crime went down. This makes logical sense. But even if you thought it was for homogeneous, low populated, rural states like Montana and Wyoming–what about multi-cultural, with large low income communities, urban areas like Florida and Texas. There are not many incidents of killings of those with Concealed Carry licenses. Crime has gone down in states that have Concealed Carry. Common Sense gun ownership, view of rights, gun training and safety, respect–these would help more. Crime is complicated and nuanced–the ever present call for more gun control by Daley and Arne Duncan insult our intelligence and do nothing to really do nothing to fight crime. Arne Duncan and the CPS exploit kids and use a political agenda that does not stop killings. Daley has already spent tens of millions of taxpayers dollars losing in court and may now be affected by upcoming Supreme Court battles on the 2nd Amendment.

Chicago already has a handgun ban. Chicago already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Washington DC has some of the strictest gun laws in the country with the commensurate highest gun crime and murder rates. Handguns except with some exceptions like alderman, police officers, some security guards, and a hand full or grandfathered in people from decades ago–Nobody can own a handgun in the city of Chicago not even in their own home for personal protection. An Army Reservist in Chicago,trained and certified in weapons, cannot own a military weapon in Chicago even for target practice. It is illegal. It can be a felony under certain circumstances. Yes, guns are a problem. But yes, there is a legitimate and not dangerous according to statistics hunting and outdoors culture in many parts of the United States and not just rural parts. When I was in the Boy Scouts I shot 22 caliber and shotguns and nobody ever died and it was a skill, taught discipline and was useful in Army Basic training. Some Chicago Public High Schools used to have firing ranges with zero fatalities, no accidents, no shootings, no killings, no suicides. To teach respect for a weapon, safety, and markmensship is good. Too many kids who get illegal (Read: already illegal) weapons do not know safety or how to properly use them and have no respect because of our culture both the culture of violence and lack of respect for life and the complete ban culture which makes weapons even more attractive. What about an old lady who uses a weapon for personal security (like cases you have heard on the news about an old lady shooting a robber and the State’s Attorney could charge her) or one of these Arab or Korean(or any ethnic group) store owners who has a weapon when he takes the cash at night to make a night bank deposit? These are criminals? There is a different culture in Southern Illinois and rural areas. It does have less murders and crime. (although that is changing with Crystal myth and the hip-hop rap culture of stupidity gripping now maybe 2 generations even white kids in rural areas) They are getting more gangs because of a bad urban influence. There are hunting accidents. There are idiots who hunt drunk. There are the tragedies like in Wisconsin and Minnesota where Hmongs and Whites have killed each other although rare at least 2 high profile incidents. There are accidents where tragically kids get guns. But there is also millions maybe tens of millions or hundreds of millions over time that hunt, fish, outdoors, target shoot, skeet, shotgun, different animal hunting, bow hunting, military, former military, gun collectors etc. These are good law abiding citizens. Gun laws will not stop the horrible tragedy of the young man who got hit with a baseball bat and was killed who was a good boy and a good boxer. I don’t want to sound cliche about banning baseball bats. Many of these other high profile shootings would of not been stopped by the one gun a month law or any other gun laws as they were not (in some cases) automatic weapons and were not bought legally. These already are illegally bought or stolen guns. These weapons are already out on the streets. The march by Jesse Jackson and Fr. Pleger dealt with a manufacturer of weapons that does not sell to civilians, certainly it would be nice to turn our AK-47s into plowshares but the problem is that law enforcement and military need them against gangs, terrorists, other countries etc. It is a naive approach that is not really dealing with the problem. Chicago Democrats really crack me up as they always have exceptions and prove that they are not only hypocrites but that guns do work to deter crime. Alderman carry weapons. All of the Daley family, kids, inlaws, even the grandmother while alive had ARMED police officer bodyguards. Alderman Ed Burke has armed police officer bodyguards and he himself carries a weapon. Alderman Tillman carried a weapon. Governor Blagojevich has State Police officers who carry weapons. It is the 11th ward precinct captains who illegally carry weapons, and city workers, and 19th ward sherriffs who legally carry but abuse it in shooting innocents. Why can’t law abiding citizens who are trained use a weapon? Switzerland has the highest rate of weapons per capita and mandates automatic weapons to be carried and in the homes of their milita. Go to the 41st ward (one of the safest, cleanest, and least crime, gun violence, and murders) in the city of Chicago–and it has high rates of gun ownership albeit with Chicago Police officers (some good, most good but also some bad), their families, wives, kids–the point being that number of weapons and access to weapons does not mean high crime. A pure correlation even if you disagree with causation. Lastly, not just the U of C studies, the Lott studies, the Dan Polsby studies at Northwestern but the FBI statistics state that when states (now many of them) have had concealed carry that crime went down. This makes logical sense. But even if you thought it was for homogeneous, low populated, rural states like Montana and Wyoming–what about multi-cultural, with large low income communities, urban areas like Florida and Texas. There are not many incidents of killings of those with Concealed Carry licenses. Crime has gone down in states that have Concealed Carry. Common Sense gun ownership, view of rights, gun training and safety, respect–these would help more. Crime is complicated and nuanced–the ever present call for more gun control by Daley and Arne Duncan insult our intelligence and do nothing to really do nothing to fight crime. Arne Duncan and the CPS exploit kids and use a political agenda that does not stop killings. Daley has already spent tens of millions of taxpayers dollars losing in court and may now be affected by upcoming Supreme Court battles on the 2nd Amendment.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 6, 2008 “McCain’s Ties to Shadowy Security Company Confirmed” John McCain makes occasional mention of his friend, Admiral Chuck Larson, whose distinguished career includes the command of nuclear submarines and the management of the Naval Academy. Not as well known but by no means concealed is Larson’s link to Washington’s ViaGlobal Group, the successor company to ViaFinance and Galway Partners. ViaGlobal was serving as the “business incubator” for Rosetta Research and Consulting LLC, best known as the company involved in luring Afghan tribal chieftain and accused drug kingpin Haji Bashar Noorzai to the U.S., where he was arrested in April of 2005. One of Rosetta’s Department of Defense sponsors, believed to be a senior staff member in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, brokered an introduction to CNN military commentator General David Grange, who serves as an advisor to ViaGlobal. Grange made the initial arrangements between Rosetta, represented by former Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman partner and ex-NSC attorney Joseph Myers, now with the International Monetary Fund, and ViaGlobal’s chairman, Frank Gren. Another former Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman partner, Carole Van Cleefe, brokered a deal between Rosetta and Oracle. Oracle project managers Barbara Bleiweiss and Peter Bloom attempted to establish a joint venture using an existing contract vehicle with the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force (FTTTF), but was unsuccessful due to Rosetta’s cost demands. Gren and his colleagues sought to obtain additional funding for Rosetta, as millions of dollars in investment money had been spent on payments to secure the confidence of Noorzai. Myers, Gren, and others sought sources of funding such as a contract with the FBI as well as an investment from fallen tobacco lawyer Dickie Scruggs. ViaGlobal appears to have used McCain, acting through staffer Chris Paul, to divert a 2004 FBI internal investigation into dealings between Rosetta contractors and certain FBI employees. This was the subject of a meeting held with the FBI’s Deputy Director John Pistole in late 2004. In mid 2006, the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General conducted an investigation into criminal activities of the same FBI employees. Rosetta’s phone, email, and contractual records were subpoenaed. In addition, several Rosetta officials and advisors were questioned for several weeks. Papers filed as part of the Noorzai case show that Rosetta, acting under the orders of senior U.S. officials, promised Noorzai he would not be arrested. Rosetta also paid substantial sums to various foreign government officials who then lied to Noorzai about the actual purpose of the meetings. Noorzai had been indicted as a drug kingpin, and since efforts to secure his cooperation in other matters had failed, the decision was made to bring him to the United States and arrest him. The papers also show that Rosetta sought and obtained in excess of ten million dollars from investors, who believed they were investing in a security company. Instead, the money was being used to finance the lavish and extensive travel needed to locate Noorzai and gain his confidence. The investors are understandably upset, but since the Rosetta principals are known only as “Mike” and “Brian” no success has been had in locating them. Rosetta also had improper relationships with a handful of FBI employees, who were later investigated for contributing to Rosetta’s alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices and Neutrality Acts. As part of the incubation arrangement, ViaGlobal sought to obtain ownership of Rosetta’s proprietary database of terrorist financiers as well as access to the extensive network of contacts in the Middle East developed as part of the dealings with Noorzai. ###