Written by Laurie Higgins
A former staffer for Pinocchio Rauner wasted no time telling conservatives to abandon all hope. In a commentary appearing in Friday’s Chicago Tribune, Patrick Wohl tried to scare the Illinois GOP away from any rightward movement. Scaremonger Wohl ominously warned, “The Illinois GOP needs unity, not a race to the right.” That’s code language for “Abandon the social issues, you idiot right-wing lunatics!”
How about this for a revision: “The Illinois GOP needs unity on the entire GOP platform, not abandonment of the parts of it ignorant RINOs and Libertarians don’t like.”
Wohl describes Jeanne Ives‘ candidacy as “undoubtedly the first foray into this impending debacle” of moving the party rightward.… Continue Reading
Tags: Bruce Rauner, Chicago Tribune, JB Pritker, Jeanne Ives, Jim Edgar, Judy Baar Topinka, Mark Kirk, Pat Brady, Patrick Wohl, Tim Schneider
Media Watch | David E. Smith | 
November 10, 2018 4:00 AM | 
Comments Off on Pinocchio Rauner’s Staffer Tells Conservatives to Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter the GOP
Written by Laurie Higgins
After reading a book review in the Chicago Tribune, I’ve got a little sumpin’ sumpin’ to say about renowned former New York Times book critic Michiko Kakutani who retired in 2017 and has written the book The Death of Truth, but first a clarification: This is not a defense of President Donald Trump, whose behavior I continue to find problematic but who I am really glad trumped Hillary.
In Kakutani’s newly released book, she says, “If a novelist had concocted a villain like Trump–a larger-than-life, over-the-top avatar of narcissism, mendacity, ignorance, prejudice, boorishness, demagoguery, and tyrannical impulses, she or he would likely be accused of extreme contrivance and implausibilty.”
With the exception of “larger-than-life” and boorishness, this seems an apt description of Barack Obama.
…
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Tags: Barack Obama, Carolyn Kellogg, Chicago Tribune, Democratic National Committee, Donna Brazile, Ilya Shapiro, Jonathan Turley, Michiko Kakutani, New York Times, The Death of Truth
Media Watch | David E. Smith | July 19, 2018 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Who Are the Future Fascists of America?
Written by John Biver and David E. Smith
Illinois Republicans never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Whether it is reaching enough Illinoisans with the facts about the dire fiscal state of Illlinois or about the terrible consequences of the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment,” GOP leaders can’t seem to make use of the many teachable moments that occur weekly in Illinois politics.
One such teachable moment presented itself in a shocking investigative report by the Chicago Tribune on pervasive child sexual abuse within the Chicago Public School system that exposed that “Over a decade, police investigated more than 520 cases of juvenile sexual assault and abuse in Chicago’s public schools.”
Despite the shocking nature of the abuses outlined in the report, there has been virtually no response from Illinois Republican “leaders.” Where is the proactive, sustained and appropriate expression of outrage coming from GOP Chairman Tim Schneider, Governor Bruce Rauner, State Senator Bill Brady and State Representative Jim Durkin?… Continue Reading
Tags: Bill Brady, Bruce Rauner, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Tribune, Illinois GOP, Jim Durkin, Mike Madigan, sex abuse scand, Tim Mapes, Tim Schneider
Illinois Politics, LGBTQ Agenda, Marriage, Family & Culture | David E. Smith | June 14, 2018 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Illinois Republicans Miss the Target in Target-Rich Environment–Again
Written by Pat Hickey
The Chicago Tribune writes that “The (Paul Simon Institute) survey found Bruce Rauner, the first-term governor, leading his Republican challenger, three-term state Rep. Jeanne Ives of Wheaton, 51 percent to 31 percent, with 18 percent undecided or favoring someone else.”
Before Ives’ supporters allow defeatism to creep in, here’s a word on polling from the American Association of Public Opinion Research: “[E]ven the best public opinion poll is only a snapshot of public opinion at the particular moment in time, not an eternal truth.”
The Paul Simon Institute (PSI) has trotted out percentages and pie-charts that proved Illinois could not wait for civil unions, or to redefine marriage, and really needs to score some legal weed, ASAP.… Continue Reading
Tags: (Paul Simon Institute, Bruce Rauner, Chicago Tribune, Daniel Biss, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, JB Pritzker, Jeanne Ives, Pat Quinn, Rod Blagojevich
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | March 10, 2018 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Paul Simon Institute Polls Satisfy Everyone but Illinois Citizens
Written by Laurie Higgins
The Chicago Tribune has endorsed Bruce Rauner despite his lousy track record, his lousy debate performance, and his penchant for bald-faced lying (as amply demonstrated in his campaign ads).
The Trib sees Rauner’s resolve in opposing Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as his chief accomplishment. But surely the editorial board knows that resolve in the service of principle is—along with her command of public policy—one of Ives’ most notable attributes.
So, why endorse Rauner who was named the “Worst Republican Governor in America” by National Review?… Continue Reading
Written by Pat Hickey
Polls–you know ‘scientifically conducted’ data collection, organization and dissemination that agrees most heartily with the conclusions crafted prior to research collected, organized and disseminated–have given Illinois its lofty position on what has been designated the “Right Side of History.”
The same such research sent people to the ovens in the last century and slaughtered millions of unborn American humans since 1973.
Illinois, the biggest laughing stock real estate on the continent, is usually on the “Right Side of History,” but people and businesses move away or avoid Illinois altogether.… Continue Reading
Tags: Bruce Rauner, Chicago Tribune, Chris Kennedy, Dan Biss, JB Pritzker, Jeanne Ives, Jimmy Kimmel, marijuana, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Tina Sfondeles
Illinois Politics, Marijuana | David E. Smith | February 28, 2018 6:00 AM | Comments Off on Illinois Is Already Stuck on Stupid and Doesn’t Need Dopey
Written by Laurie Higgins
Last week the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, columnist Eric Zorn, columnist Rex Huppke, and “reporter” Kim Janssen all took shots at gubernatorial candidate Jeanne Ives’ campaign ad.
The Ives campaign released an ad that criticized policies using actors to depict the constituencies Bruce Rauner serviced through his boneheaded Leftist decisions, and Leftists became apoplectic. Actually, they mainly cared about the depiction of a cross-dressing man—or what the Left risibly calls a “transwoman” to conceal the existential and immutable reality of his sex.… Continue Reading
Tags: "Joanie Rae" Wimmer, Bruce Dold, Bruce Rauner, Chicago Tribune, Eric Zorn, James Kirkup, Jeanne Ives, Jessie Meehan, Kim Janssen, Rex Huppke, The Catholic Church, Transgender birth certificates
Illinois Politics, Media Watch | Benjamin D. Smith | February 13, 2018 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Chicago Tribune Dumps on Ives
Written by Laurie Higgins
Monday night the Chicago Tribune editorial board hosted a debate between Governor Bruce Rauner and primary challenger State Representative Jeanne Ives. Ives wiped the floor with Rauner.
Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass—one of the questioners—wrote this following the debate:
[O]n Monday, judging just from his eyes and body language after debating Ives…Rauner looked like a man who’d been whipped. He just couldn’t quite come to grips with the whipping….… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Illinoisans have a lot to be proud of — we live in a beautiful state in the heart of America. Our people are hardworking, our soil is among the most productive in the world, our transportation systems are first rate, we have a world-class city and hundreds of great small towns. The list could go on and on.
But to our shame is our state government. Illinois is at or near the top on a lot of bad lists: corruption, tax burden, unfunded liabilities, and debt.… Continue Reading
