Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Vote for Bob Dold


Whether you're voting early or on election day, don't forget to vote for Bob Dold!

I am not at the World Series, Shucks.


It used to be that the World Series was played in September and now it might interfere with Halloween. Just because they play some games at night is once again no excuse why the Cubs aren't there. One thing stays the same, however, year in and year out: the way they make a baseball. Hope you enjoy this little video. If you're like me, you wish you were at the ballgame!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Cook County Early Voting Questions

The following email came to me this afternoon,

"Did you vote yet? I did. I was surprised that the election judges have no tags to show their party or their names. Is this because they are County employees? One judge was helping several people out with the touch screen while they were voting. Is this allowed? Although I think the man wanted to help people, I thought judges or friends who accompany voters to the voting booth must fill out something that the judges file with the county clerk, and that if a judge helps a voter there has to be someone from both parties. What do you think?"

I replied, " I don't know. The Democrats don't always win because there are more of them." I also sent along this copy of the instruction book for Judges of Election put out by David Orr's office where I found the following information on page 88:

Assistance may be provided to:
  • Voters unable to physically mark a ballot
  • Voters unable to read, speak or write English
  • Voters with limited reading and writing skills
The voter may bring a friend or relative to the polling place for
assistance or request help from two election judges (one from
each party). Before issuing a ballot, judges must:

Fill out the universal voter’s affidavit FORM 301.
  • If the voter is physically disabled, mark box 7.
  • If the voter cannot read English, mark box 6.
The voter and judge must sign the universal voter’s affidavit.

Totally Silly


And this song is dedicated to Juan Williams. What he said about Muslims might have been honest but it was kind of dumb. Come to think about it, this song is kind of dumb, too. I learned about it from . . . well, lets just say just say from someone who isn't afraid of Muslims in planes and leave it at that. Hope you enjoy the silliness, even though I think Saudis drive mostly Mercedes or BMW's.

H/t ZH

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Scratching My Head Department : Incredible Official Visit to India

The Mumbai Mirror, is reporting breathlessly how many hotel rooms President Obama will require on his upcoming trip to India:

"After the election, the Obamas are taking off. To ensure fool-proof security, the President’s team has booked the entire the Taj Mahal Hotel, including 570 rooms, all banquets and restaurants. Since his security contingent and staff will comprise a huge number, 125 rooms at Taj President have also been booked, apart from 80 to 90 rooms each in Grand Hyatt and The Oberoi hotels. The NCPA, where the President is expected to meet representatives from the business community, has also been entirely booked.

"The officer said, 'Obama’s contingent is huge. There are two jumbo jets coming along with Air Force One, which will be flanked by security jets. There will be 30 to 40 secret service agents, who will arrive before him. The President’s convoy has 45 cars, including the Lincoln Continental in which the President travels'.”

So, that would be 570 rooms + 125 rooms + 80 rooms + 90 rooms = 865 rooms.

I would not want the President to become a shut-in, be unsafe, or be unable to go visitng, but this number of rooms (assuming it is correct) is amazing. Doesn't the USA have a nice little secure apartment in the Embassy which might meet the Obama's needs?

Americans are becoming a little disillusioned over what sometimes seems to be a family aspiring to royalty when they thought they were voting for a man of the people. It's no wonder the following is making the rounds . . .

"Obama is the shepherd I did not want. He leadeth me beside the still factories. He restoreth my faith in the Republican party. He guideth me in the path of unemployment for his party's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the bread line, I shall fear no hunger, for his bailouts are with me. He has anointed my income with taxes, My expenses runneth over. Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all the days of my life, And I will live in a mortgaged home forever."

We would note that Buckingham Palace has 19 state rooms, 52 principal bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.

UPDATE: The Obama in India story is starting to receive greater coverage, and in this article about the Obama family vising the Taj Mahal, this Commenter appeals to the Indian People: "Can the people of India show their solidarity with US and keep Obama and all his cohorts in India for the rest of his term as President. He is a likable fellow and has a lovely family. He's made a couple million since he has been in office so he should not be a burden. It would sure help us out over here. Thanks in advance."

Friday, October 22, 2010

Accused! Treason! Senate!

Did you see last night's evening news with Senate Candidate Alexi Giannoulias nearly foaming at the mouth? Perhaps its best that by this morning Giannoulias' remarks are being soft-pedaled. Accusing his opponent, Congressman Mark Kirk of treason as well as either being or wanting to be the Senator from Beijing is amazingly over the top. This is a US senate race, not Illinois politics.

While the President says in his campaign speech about his pal Alexi, "You can trust him; you can count on him." All I can ask is "For what?"

I think its best if we all go vote early for Mark Kirk for Senate. We don't need a US Senator who loses all perspective under stress, and Alexi Giannoulias has proved himself to be just that kind of guy.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Truth Challenged House Candidate Dan Seals (IL-10) Strikes Again

Perennial Congressional candidate Dan Seals, running in Illinois 10th District, has delivered to the voters an an unending series of small deceits since beginning his bid for office 6 years ago. So why should I be surprised when an email which purports to be from Joe Biden was really sent from Dan Seals website? Joe is out banging the drum for his part in the upcoming election, but doesn't his office have their own e-mail? And since the email sent by Seals' campaign seeks campaign contributions for "attack ads," shouldn't Dan Seals offer more on the front page of his website than attacks against his opponent, the well-regarded, locally involved Bob Dold?

Why Dan Seals thinks he can capably represent people in a community to which he has no roots nor ties--other than buying a house with his wife that turned out to be just outside the 10th district in nearby Wilmette--remains a puzzle.

In Chicago, Electioneering Mostly Okay in Democrat Precincts

Oh! Oh! Oh! and No! No! No!

 Somehow I find it odd that former lawyer Michelle Antoinette was chatting and visiting and instructing the voters to support her husband in her early-voting polling place today. Odd because surely she knows better; she is no newcomer to politics. While there aren't many Republicans over on the South Side to complain about electioneering, and some find even the so-called "Republican" judges to be a little suspicious, that doesn't free South Siders to ignore the law. While White House press secretary Robert Gibbs laughed the incident off, Michelle owes the people an apology for any illegal behavior that occurred.  Here's the law:

(10 ILCS 5/17‑29) (from Ch. 46, par. 17‑29)
Sec. 17‑29. (a) No judge of election, pollwatcher, or other person shall, at any primary or election, do any electioneering or soliciting of votes or engage in any political discussion within any polling place, within 100 feet of any polling place, or, at the option of a church or private school, on any of the property of that church or private school that is a polling place; no person shall interrupt, hinder or oppose any voter while approaching within those areas for the purpose of voting. Judges of election shall enforce the provisions of this Section.

h/t to JP, for whom it matters.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Hope You're Enjoying Columbus Day!


Happy Columbus Day! Well, that's really tomorrow, but some people get a holiday today. Hope you have the day off! Unfortunately, I don't.

I was pleased to see that this year there is a return to the Columbus Day Sale. In the last couple years I thought Columbus Day was going to disappear into the annals of US History, but looks like people were beginning to miss it after all.

I think you like this little old fashioned cartoon with the story of Christopher Columbus, which is--in its own little way--quite inspiring. For more in-depth info, click here to see Time magazine's "Top 10 Things You should Know about Columbus."

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Pledge to America

“For fourteen straight months, national unemployment has remained above 9.5. This is a place the Administration told us our economy would never see if only the stimulus was passed. One trillion dollars in spending later, millions of Americans are struggling with unemployment, while businesses and investors sit on the sidelines rather than putting their capital to work to get the economy back on its feet."

I couldn't have said it better, but Illinois' own Pete Roscom beat me to the punch. I'm thinking this point of view is why your usually Democrat neighbors have those Republican signs in the yard this year. With news that 95,000 more jobs have been lost, is it any wonder?  Click here to read the new Pledge to America.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Great News: Bob Dold Endorsed by Trib for IL-10!

Bob Dold (center)  has been spending long hours meeting with local voters
Bob Dold just won the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune for Illinois' 10th Congressional District and  that is great news. Having grown up in Kenilworth, graduated from New Trier, and earned his MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg, Bob is an extremely local candidate with deep roots in the community.  Bob has spent  countless hours and long days getting out and meeting citizens throughout the 10th district, gaining increased understanding of the problems that our district faces. One of Bob Dold's strong concerns is the current job situation. In Wilmette alone, the Federal Government spent just shy of $3 million in stimulus funds and created 1.62 jobs.  Clearly, that is no bang for the buck. With our state unemployment running around 10%, Dold's plan to cut government spending and put into place policies that create private-sector jobs is very welcome.

 If you haven't met Bob Dold yet, do take the time to do so. If you go down Green Bay Road, his campaign headquarters is just over the Elm street bridge in Winnetka at Abe Fell's old store, and the Dold for Congress website  has information about this campaign as well as an e-mail sign up. I have known the Dold family for a long time, and have been backing Bob since before the primary. In the primary, Bob was chosen over several other well-qualified people by his party, and I am hoping he will be chosen by the voters in November. Bob Dold would make an excellent Congressman. But you don't have to take my word for it. Tonight, Thursday October 7th, from 7-8:30 PM, Chicago Hadassah will hold a candidate forum at Temple Am Shalom, 840 Vernon Ave., Glencoe.

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Friday, October 01, 2010

Bring Back the Handshake

Yes, we know that Wilmette's own Rahm Emanuel is almost Chicago's mayor, but would someone please, pretty please, just bring back the handshake? Enough is enough. All this hugging has got to go.

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Is "Camp Politics" Right for Your Child?


I thought this was a really cute video about "Camp Politics" and learning how to be a politician. Hope you enjoy it!

H/t OW via email.

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