Nick Novich - Entertainment Empire -Educated Entrepreneur

Nick's on Halsted and Armitage was a breakthrough saloon in 1977. While Disco lounges proliferated in the suburbs and on the urban fringes, and faux cowboy barns lured in the Urbane Cowboys ( why is it that only lawyers seem to wear the goofball cowboy hats while wearing Hickey-Freeman suits and Johnson-Murphy tasseled loafers?), Nick Novich - English Teacher, Football Coach, Serbian-American Jazz Cat - established what would become the 'spot' for the hep and those who have the good sense to listen to the hep.

Nick was my mentor as a baby teacher at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee, Illinois. Nick established the football program that Rich Zinanni would drive to five State Football Championships, following Novich's foray into Liquid Refreshment and Alternative Conversation Entertainment.

Nick Novich is one of those people that God blesses all of us with by putting his/her talent, soul, intesity, courage, confiction,humor and loyalty into our paths at times in our lives. I have been blessed to meet many such talented people - Max Weissmann, Terry Sullivan, Mike Joyce, Boz O'Brien, Bernard Callahan, Carlos Nelson, Mike Holmes, Marquis Ball, Thomas Hayes, Lonny Newman, Tom Kotel, Billy Higgins, Marty Tully, Jack Higgins, Rose Keefe, Richard Lindberg, Steve Rhodes, Jim Frogge, Paul Tutt, Willie Winters, and Terry McEldowney to name just a few. Nick Novich could command this regiment of talented people - singers, writers, coaches, artists, boxers, pipe-fitters and saints.

The original Nick's Place had been a bust-out joint of the filthy Old Style sign variety, where gents in full need of an alcoholic topping off could be assured of Sunnybrook and ten ounce domestic beer. Physics teacher and football coach Jim Frogge and I took a trip up to the DePaul area one Saturday and helped Nick toss some of the old fittings and were rewarded with cold Ale at Glascott's Grogery.
It was here that Nick laid out his strategies for alternative entertainment - "Music - the jukebox can not be dominated by what WLS tells people to listen to - I am the Captain of my bar and we will listen to Dr. Horse, Etta James, Sun Ra, Stanley Turentine, Blossom Deary, Curtis Mayfield and the Impression, anything that Jerry Butler sings, piano concerti by Glenn Gould, . . ."

I asked, "Any Planxty, or the Dubliners?" Nick, looked at me with hopeful tolerance, " In time, my Son, you will grow into the man I hope you can become. Eat your vegetables and read your Yeats."

Nick's was not a 'Fern-Bar' it was a clean, well-lighted place where actors, artists, politicians like the great and visionary Danny O'Brien who would die in a Michigan accident, and school teachers with nickels and dimes could congregate, converse, consume Imported Beer on tap, as well as hand-crafted Wisconsin ambrosia's like Point and the absolutely heavenly Eau Clair All Malt - from the Chicago Keeley's Half & Half recipe.

Nick commanded a welcoming house of Hep. Bigots, loud-mouths, louts, skanks, pests and sharks were solidly shown the door.

Ten Years ago Nick moved to his current Milwaukee Ave. location and has opened a wonderful place in Uptown.

This past December, Nick hosted a gathering of writers Richard Lindberg, Rose Keefe and others for a talk about Chicago Crime figures and Nick was thick in the soupy mix of facts and legends concerning Big Mike McDonald, Bathhouse John Coughlin and the legendary Paddy Bauler. Nick knows the 42nd and 43rd Ward histories. Nick lives literature and history.

Last night, Nick and I caught up on the phone to discuss the sorry state of American Education, how bullies flourish in an institutional setting like Notre Dame, and the power of music to sensitize and spark the best in the human species. "Have your boy lie on his back with eyes closed and listen to Coltrain, or Miles Davis and he will emerge a different person."

Nick could lead people to a great watering hole but getting a horse of a former St. Rita football player who has subsisted on a diet of LaLaPalooza?'

Go to Nicks! Go to Flat-Iron! Go to Nick's in Uptown! Get better.
Entertainment.

Contact - Nick!
Nick's Beer Garden
1516 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622 773-252-1155 http://www.nicksbeergarden

http://www.nicksbeergarden.com/

Hickey Family and Obama Administration 100 Days Timeline

Some key actions since President Barack Obama was sworn in Jan. 20: Key moments in the effort of Pat Hickey to provide our sagging economy with much-needed infusions of cash! I would have just spent it on food anyway.

Day 3: Signs an order to close Guantanamo Bay.

Emerald Plumbing's Brian Dalton comes out in -25 Below Zero to chop and dig out the City Parkway Tree Roots Blocking the access pipe to my sewer line. $$$ , but the heroic plumber dug out the source of water in the basement. Brian Dalton did this in a blizzard!

Day 10: Signs a bill making it easier for employees to sue for work/pay discrimination.

Roto -Rooter Comes out to clear the City Parkway Tree roots that clogged my sewer line thirty feet from the access pipe on my sewer line - The access pipe would not allow the foam Root-killer to take effect. Yikes, $ 275.00

Day 16: Extends health coverage to 4 million uninsured children.

Clare is accepted at Mother McAuley! Tuition $ 8,000 and change - $575 registration fee due immediately.

Day 25: The House and Senate pass his economic stimulus bill.

Clare registers at Mother McAuley - School Belles Uniform Fee $$$$.

Day 29: Approves sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

Clare makes the St. Rita Cheer leading Squad! $$$$
Day 39: Sets Aug. 31, 2010, as the end of the U.S. combat mission in Iraq.

Wind blows gutters off! Followed by an ice-storm due to Global Warming! Gutters replaced $$$

Day 47: Says he is open to approaching moderate Taliban in Afghanistan.

Nora comes home from Boston when her job ended! Welcome back home Baby! Welcome to the American Job Market! $$$$

Day 49: Lifts restrictions on the use of federal money for stem cell research.

Clare is Confirmed in the Faith by Bishop George Rasseas ( Best Homily Ever)! Clare is a Soldier of Christ! Hickey/Demateo/Gunkel/Holm/Cleary/Winters Confirmation Party for Clare at Traverso's $$

Day 56: Calls $165 million in bonuses paid by AIG to employees "an outrage."

Hickey fires Orkin after the ants proliferate having paid beau coup bucks to the Orkin Man! Buys Tero Ant Preventers for $8 at True Value and no ants!

Day 60: Tells Iran he wants to end differences between the two countries.

Sump pump dies a noble death and Hickey goes to Sewer and Plumbing Supplies at 90th & Green and buys a cast-iron "2 Zoeller ejector Pump* and replaces the pipe and flanges. One third of his Tax Return!

Day 69: Forces out GM Chairman Rick Wagoner.

Hickey gets the tires rotated!

Day 74: Calls for a world without nuclear weapons during a speech in Prague, Czech Republic.

After years of service the Hoover High end Dirt Destroyer burns out and Hickey replaces the old sucker! $$$

Day 77: Tells the Turkish parliament that America is "not at war with Islam."

Conor's Transmission drops and Dad helps $$$!

Day 84: Lifts restrictions on Cuban Americans' visits to the island; drops limits on remittances.

St. Rita Cheerleader Fees and uniform fitting $.

In my 100 Days, I have been told. 'Hey, Hickey! You losing weight? You ain't such a fat-ass these days!'

Tonight, President Obama will share it with us all!

*

The powerful, rugged Zoeller M53 Sump Pump has sufficient power to drain flooded excavations, basements, window wells, construction sites, and swimming pools. The single-phase motor on this pump is permanently-lubricated for continuous use and hermetically sealed to ensure a long service life and dependable operation. Features include a nonclog vortex impeller and a screenless suction inlet, enabling the Zoeller M53 to be used in areas where conventional sump pumps would clog or freeze up due to the accumulation of light debris. This pump also has a convenient carrying handle for easy transport. A powder-coated green epoxy finish and stainless steel screws, guard, and switch arm limit rust and corrosion.

Only use the Zoeller M53 Sump Pump with nonflammable liquids that are compatible with pump component materials and in nonflammable/nonexplosive atmospheres.

product specifications:
Amps
9.6
Base Material
Polypropylene
Cord Length (Ft.)
9
Dia. (In.)
10 3/32
GPM of Water @ 10 Ft. of Head
34
Height (In.)
10 1/16
Housing
Cast Iron
HP
3/10
Impeller Material
Polypropylene
Item
Submersible Sump Pump
Max. Dia. Solids (In.)
1/2
Max. Head (Ft.)
19
Off Point (In.)
3 1/4

On Point (In.)
8 1/2

RPM
1550

Switch Type
Vertical

Thermal Protection
Yes

Top Material
Cast Iron

Voltage
115

Weight
22.00

Arlen Specter Joins the 19th Ward Regular Democratic Organization . . .or not.

So, you wanna be a DemAcrat,Arlen? Ain't that nice.

AS - Good afternoon, I have become a Democrat. I am here to speak with the Top Democrat.

Sec. Matt O'Shea is on an important teleconference with Jackie Casto, Ed Carroll, and Mike Houlihan - the Movie Star -at the moment. Please take a seat and would you care for coffee?

AS - No thank you. I have some great ideas for . . .

Sec. -That's nice. Matt O'Shea will be with you in . . . well, after the conference, sir.

AS- Matt O'Shea? I expected to meet with Senators Burris and Durbin.

Sec.- Ain't that the way? (Ring,Ring, Riii. . .)

Sec.- Just a minute - Hello! Good Morning! 19th Ward Regular Democratic Org . . .Hey, Frannie! The corner of 108th and Rockwell - that's Hickey's house. What's that goof want? Tell him that the sewer line is his from the parkway to the street. He knows that - he's a damn pest. That and 'who trims the Trees - I'did'n' plant 'em' What a pain in the ass Hickey has been and continues to be - He's three votes anyway. Goofball and his son and daughter. They ain't nothing like the Old Man, but then who is? Yeah, Homer Simpson. Listen, tell him that Matt knows. Everyone in the damn 23rd Precinct knows. I'll call you back Frannie. I got this guy from Pennsylvannia was sent in to register. Republican. Looks like it. Bye,Bye! . . . I am sorry, Sir, now take these forms and write in your address - you'll need a valid Illinois Driver's License and two utility bills addressed to you.

AS- Madame, I am here to speak with a Top Democratic Operative. I am Senator Arlen Specter!

Sec.- Well, Arlen, take the forms and fill them out.

AS- I am not a resident of Chicago, Madame.

Sec. - Well . . . Arlen, I guess you can not register to vote then.

AS -I am here to meet with . . .

Sec. You did not have an appointment, . . . Arlen.

AS - I am a United States Senator . . .

Sec. - And . . .Arlen, . . .Mr. Matt O'Shea is the Democratic Ward Committeeman.

AS - This is ridiculous!

Sec. - What is, . . . Arlen?

AS - Good Day!!!!!

Sec. - Bye,Bye . . . Arlen! . . . ( shouts) Matt, he's gone!

Former President 'W' ( pronounced 'Dubyah') - Flew Air Force One over New York!

When President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious. Senior administration officials conveyed the president’s anger in a meeting with Mr. Caldera on Monday afternoon.

New York Times 4/28/2009


Mr. Caldera - "Ladies and Gentlemen, President Obama knew nothing of the fly-over that frightened thousands of New York residents as well as milions of Americans. The former President, who tortured sweet guys from the Mid-East and invaded Iraq without provocation was a member and a pilot of the Texas Air National Guard. Former President Bush is responsible for the current economic crisis, eats Tex-Mex, and regularly coughs without following the directives issued by the Secretary for Homeland Security, Janie Walnuts Napolitano, and lives in a State that has threatened secession. Also there had been a second set of keys to Air Force One, prior to The 100 Days! - MSNBC has done the math for all of us! Thank you!"

Mark Brown's 'Field of Dreams' - How Long -Oh, How Long?

"Waiting three more days didn't seem so bad after all. It made me wonder how much longer Illinois gay couples will have to wait." Chicago Sun Times Mark Brown



The idyllic fields of conjugal corn are not yet. How long? Oh, how long?

'Walp! First there's the disc-in' Gotta get the Deere out in the fields and turn up the mud. Too wet to plow most days here's about - with all this Global Warming back-lash and what-not. Then the seeding - it's all natural. Then good manure to heep on things and soon, very soon the corn will be as high as Mark Brown's eye!"

Ray Kinsella's Field of Dreams is shooting up in Iowa. Same Sex couples can marry-up and build a life and spread their seed, just as their oppositional breeding fellow citizens can do -hogging the bliss.

Neighbors laughed at Ray and said the Hawkeye Farmer was daft! Daft.

The Field is set and now coming out of the tall corn are the ghosts of those denied their human right to have joyous and bountiful sex.

Ray told me, 'Look There! Build and they will come!'

Out of the green stalks minced the greats of the past!

King James Charles Stuart and George Villiers!

Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas!

Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas!

Jane Addams and Ellen Starr and Mary Rozet Smith!

J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson!

and on and on and on and on they tripped through the tall corn!

I said, Ray, 'Oh, it isn't heaven! It's Iowa!'

Ray thumbed up his worn and mud caked Dekalb Seed Corn Cap, "Try and keep it Civil, Hickey!"

I will, Ray. I will.

Governor Lisa Madigan - and not because of her Dad. Read Tom Roeser and Steve Rhodes

Even The Hoods like Lisa Madigan.

Mr. Tom Roeser and Master ( He's Way Younger than Tom and much younger than me) Steve Rhodes are two very sharp Chicago political observers and clear political journalists.

They are poles apart politically and pols mean very little to them personally.

Today both gents treated the discerning reader to the expected arrival of Governor Lisa Madigan (D.IL).

First the insight and judgment of Tom Roeser. After giving Rep. Mark Kirk (R.) a tune-up over his Pro-Choice on Abortion -a Woman's Right to Kill Her Kid - Tom Roeser nails it:

At this writing no one has heard from Kirk about his plans. But this is just to say to the party’s financial leaders who are planning that double-digit budget: it will all go to waste and be lost in the election of Lisa Madigan (likely to be the Dem gubernatorial nominee) if you don’t consider conservative grassroots people in the gubernatorial selection. Madigan is a veritable pinwheel of grassroots movement support: pro-aborts, feminists, labor, gay rights. You name a nice little guy with a cute button nose and smile but no grassroots and you’ll once again have to relearn what you should have learned when you nominated Judy Baar Topinka: a Republican nominee for governor with no grassroots conservative support can’t make it.

http://www.tomroeser.com/

Attorney General Lisa Madigan has performed as a solid Attorney General for Illinois and has made that Office her own and no adjunct to her Dad, Speaker Michael Madigan's adult direction of Springfield. Governor Pat Quinn is a lovely guy, who made a career as the earnest clean-government hobby-horse rider in the sky. He's is Governor of Illinois because Illinois wanted Rod Blagojevich and gave that goof enough gas in his Mo-Ped to ride all over that desire. Why to go Land O' Lincoln!

Governor Pat Quinn wants to shoot Illinois' feet off with a tax from hell. Alpha Mike Foxtrot, as Marty Tully would say. Marty did a bunch of tours in Vietnam before becoming one of the two best homicide cops in Chicago.

Mr. Roeser, the Illinois Samuel Johnson, picks up the Governor Madigan specimen with the delicacy of a Loyola University Medical Center Neurosurgeon. This Butterfly Lives! Lisa Madigan flies on gossamer-like wings made of a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue minute silk fibers running through it -dollar bills miles of them.
Those dollars come from real Labor Unions and also PACS -ACORN/SEIU/Planned Parenthood & etc.the Democratic Party Astro-turf. The GOP tends to draw dough from businesses and rich guys.

Lisa Madigan will be the governor of Illinois.

Then, at the NBC website, the brilliant and witty Steve Rhodes with more pithy prose and Progressive sympathies states the glaringly obvious -

Madigan can always change her mind, or opt to run for another office, but right now she - or somebody on her behalf - is raising money in preparation for something, and seeing as how the e-mail references a poll that looked at a match-up with Quinn, there is no other conclusion to draw at the moment.

That poll, sponsored by the Service Employees International Union, showed Madigan with a 48-24 lead over Quinn in the city of Chicago, with 28 percent undecided. An early poll like this has limited value, but its portentous that Madigan is raising money off it.

The path to Springfield is paved with dough - that is nothing new, nor is something to pull your skirts up and shriek like a fair, fat and fifty something Maiden Aunt.
There is a right way to raise money and the Blagojevich way - 'Hey, I'm gonna be Governor . . . know what I mean? That's some wallet you got there. Gimme it!'

All the Campaign Reform nonsense comes from losers who could not get anyone with the pilot light going to drop them a nickel. That is why SEIU and Planned Parenthood shower dough on Forty Watt Howlers like Jan Schakowsky. I could care less if anyone financed his own campaign or had the backing of Uncle Moneybags. The smart money goes on the horse with the best blood, feed, trainer and record.

Lisa Madigan is the Class of Field. The Oat-blowers of the Democratic Party and the Glue Bottle-Aspirants of the GOP should be aware of the very sound drubbing they will get from Lisa Madigan.

Public Execution of the Entire GW Bush Administrations ( Both) Sponsored By the ACLU -The Only Way to Save the Soul of the Country!

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont wants a kind of “truth and reconciliation commission,” with no punishments to be meted out except exposure; others want a major congressional investigation, while still others want the Justice Department to undertake a criminal investigation.

The Man with Turtle Waxed Dome has Spoken! I'm With Maple Syrup Man! Let's Get to Lynchinmg Bush! Rice! Cheney! Scott McClellan -He Was With Them! Any One With Them! Hang the Dog! The Houston Astros! Josh Brolin! He Played W!Save Our Soul! Execute! This is Roger Baldwin's AmeriKa!

CNN, Big Ed, Butc Maddow, Tubby Olbermann, David Sssssschueshter, Milky Matthews, KOS, MoveOn Dot Org! Let's go! My Soul's Damaged! Think of the Children!

I am now a Progressive, there is no money in being a regular guy. I have ordered all of my children to attend Gamelial Institute and train as Saul Alinsky community activists.

As a Progressive, I now demand that a Woman's Reproductive Health Initiative be exacted upon all teens who get themselves 'knocked up, or have a duck in the oven'! This must be paid for by tax-payers. Yes! 86 God, while we're at it! Bill Maher is not a bigotted Sissy! Really.

More importantly, we must save Amerika's Soul! God's had his time! Change! We Trust in Only in the ACLU! Call Geithner at Treasury and get the Mullah fixed.

Finally, I call for the immediate and public execution of all criminals in the George W. Bush Administration. Hey, why wait? The Media will play ball! Televise! Live Stream! You Tube! Let's Do it! Why waste time! Dig it! Move On!

How can I help?

Duke Ellington -From the Sacred Concerts -Heaven

Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts -there were three. This is Heaven from one of them!

Click my Post Title for the Video link.

The 1960s were, for Ellington, a period when he produced some of his finest recorded work (certainly on a par with the stuff from the late 1950s) most notably The Popular Duke Ellington (recorded a year after the first Sacred Concert album, with both albums produced by RCA's legendary A&R man, Brad McCuen) where he introduces a new audience to his most popular compositions, such as Take the 'A' Train (written by Billy Strayhorn of course), Mood Indigo, I Got It Bad, Solitude, Black and Tan Fantasy, and the almost evangelical Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me, (written by Ellington in 1940 as Concerto for Cootie), a piece that has a lot in common with his beautiful melody Come Sunday (written for his extended work Black, Brown & Beige in 1943), which later became a corner stone of his first Sacred Concert. To me this suggest that just about everything Ellington (a devout Christian) wrote from the 1940s onwards was spiritually headed toward his series of Sacred Concerts. Sadly, Ellington's Sacred Concerts have come in for quite a bit of criticism over the years, most notably that they lack cohesive musical form, which is like saying Faure couldn't write a requiem. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When we listen to Duke Ellington's Concert of Sacred Music (recorded at the New York Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church) we hear Ellington at his best, where he uses the whole Ellington bag of compositional signatures (including a hint of Delius here and there) centred around the individual voices of his musicians, creating the Ellington 'family' sound that takes us into his world and, by degrees, his Christianity that, like a simple, familiar hymn, can move us beyond the musical form and into a higher realm. Just listen to track 2, side 1, Tell Me It's The Truth, sung by Esther Marrow, followed by Come Sunday, to get the idea.

This is not just music, but worship.

http://www.zimbio.com/Steve+Newman's+Jazz+Groove/articles/24/Duke+Ellington+Sacred+Concerts
True, I caught the Dupage College Jazz Ensemble's presentation last night. Mind Blowing.


Programme Note
Digital perusal score available from SchirmerOnDemand
1. In the Beginning God
2. Will You Be There?
3. Ain’t But the One
4. Tell Me It’s the Truth
5. Heaven6. Something ’Bout Believing
7. Praise God
8. Father Forgive
9. The Lord’s Prayer
10. The Shepherd
11. David Danced
12. Almighty God
13. Come Sunday
14. My Love
15. Freedom
16. Meditation
17. Praise God and Dance
18. Praise God and Dance (encore)

Neil Steinberg - Now, You Have No Warm-Up!

Last Tuesday, Neil Steinberg called me at Leo. I liked Neil Steinberg as a person at one time, because I had mistaken the grace of his prose for actual grace. Hey , I am mistaken often. I thought John McCain really wanted to be President. Last October Neil had written a piece for his Chicago Sun Times column calling on everyone to vote for President Obama, which most people happened to do. However, Neil Steinberg used that column to make his point by inferring that people in my neighborhood are Nazis.

Last October, Steinberg wrote,

Obviously, you want Obama elected — the nation will soon realize what it has done, the pendulum will swing the other way — your way. At long last! Ausgerechnet jetzt!

Persuasive stuff. But if I know you — and I do — about now you’re asking yourself: “Hey, wait a second. This guy’s a Jew. Why would a Jew be looking out for the best interest of the Iron Fist of Righteous White Anger, Mount Greenwood Corps?”

This snotty crack followed a series of Sun Times columns by other like-minded writers who hate cops and white Catholics in general that spouted pretty much the same lie. I live in Morgan Park which, like Mount Greenwood, gets grouped in a collective that the media call Beverly or the political landscape of the 19th Ward - home to largely white Catholic, government employees, teachers, nurses, tradesmen, some well-to-do folks, cops and fireman. Many black Americans live very well in this neighborhood as well. I meet black gents like Doc and Stewart up at Keegan's Pub drinking and horse-laughing with their paler hued neighbors. However, when I read Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times (without paying for either mind you), one might think that folks spent their time chasing Eliza over the ice flow on the Ohio River, as the poor child attempts to find the Underground High Speed Railroad. Nope.

Steinberg and I were friendly, before that snotty crack. I had invited Neil out to Leo the previous November for the Veterans Observances, gave him a Leo Warm-Up just like the ones worn by the remarkable Leo Lions on the basketball courts of Illinois. It is a swell garment. Champion, I believe. I took Neil Steinberg to Jackie Casto's Ken's on Western Ave. for lunch, where the talented word-sculptor chatted with a thick number of folks who live here.

Generally, when one breaks bread with another person some kind of bond of mutual grace and respect surfaces - not so with too many columnists, who believe themselves to be later day John Steinbeck's - Steinbeck gave every reporter with literary pretensions license to pretend to 'care about the downtrodden' and hate cops when Tom Joad uttered,"...I'll be all around in the dark. I'll be ever'-where - wherever you can look. Wherever there's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever there's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there."

Steinberg decided to lord it over the people in my neighborhood and columnists always seem to get away with saying anything about anyone. They keep their jobs, because the thin-hearted variety of columnist will write to advance whatever tack the editorial board takes - conservative editor and Neil is conservative,or radical; Neil gets radical. That's his church not mine.

I have had nothing to do with Neil Steinberg since October. I figure if a person has no use for another person why play at it. Life's too short. No grudge. No sweat. No nothing.


So Tuesday, Neil Steinberg calls me at Leo and to the very best of my knowledge the back-and-forth goes like this:

( ring, or Buzz) Hickey picks up :

- Leo High School -this is Pat Hickey. . .

- Hey, it's Neil Steinberg . . .

- What can I do for you?

- We haven't spoken in a while. What's new?

- Nothing. What Can I do for you?

- We were pretty friendly and you haven't spoken to me in a while . . .I have gotten e-mails about the harsh things you say about me. It was a joke - Satire. Why not be a man and talk about it.

- Talk about what? You smeared my neighbors, the people you ate with, the people who support black kids here at Leo, you called them a bunch of Nazis

- It was a joke. I write something and I generally don't think about it . . .

-(Louder than a nuanced sophisticate) That is the problem. You say something snotty about people that have little or no voice whatsoever and you call it a joke?

-Perhaps there was some ring of truth to what I said if you and your friends are so sensitive and . . .

- ( More than Loud) You can hop-up and kiss my ass, J@#off! ( click)

Today, Steinberg slaps back at my 'close-knit tribal ethnic' response to his 'apology' and make friends overture - which translates to 'I Take Back Nothing -Take it and Like It' in Medill School of Journalese:

It was with mingled melancholy and liberation that I bagged up my Leo Lions baseball warm-up jacket to give to the homeless. The coat was a gift from an administrator there who had befriended me, and every time I wore it, I had happy memories of my visit to Leo High School and of my pal, plus a little undeserved ego boost, as if I had once been that hot left hander with a mean sinker, Bucky Steinberg.

But alas, I made a joke last October that ruffled this guy's feathers. After five months of running across his nasty personal comments -- it's amazing how some fellows can shift from butt-nuzzling obsequiousness to permanent outrage -- flying across cyberspace, I realized that he wasn't getting it out of his system, as I hoped he would, and I had better phone him. It seemed the manly thing to do, and believe it or not, despite the acerbic edge to this column, I don't like to be on bad terms with anybody.

I figured I'd apologize, we'd bury the hatchet. Alas, he was still doorjamb-gnawing mad, and the conversation did not go well. He invited me to kiss something that I'd prefer not kiss, and hung up.

Oh well, I'll survive, and I'm sure some toothless shuffling drug addict will enjoy his new Leo Lions warm-up jacket.

As a butt-nuzzler who takes a back seat to no one - no matter how obsequious, I appreciate the genuine in all things. I appreciate Neil Steinberg's understanding that one person fails to understand his joke and his own sense of what amounts to a genuine apology.

I have shot my mouth off like a jerk and said something akin to 'Jesus, that was stupid of me.' When I failed to understand the stupidity of an off-hand remark, I fully understood the knuckles tapping my gums. That is the essence, the core and the foundation of a serious failure to communicate. Consequences. A wise police officer told me, "Too many people these days worry about self-esteem and pay absolutely no attention to self-respect or respect for other people."

I also understand shunning. Shunning occurs when a person purposefully violates the rules of good grace, manners and respect. A person whom I have willfully, or even unwittingly, offended would and should shun me -have nothing to do with me. Likewise, I should have nothing to ask of that person - beyond forgiveness and sometimes forgiveness goes along with the shun. Forgiven, but not forgotten. When I poison a well, I do not tell everyone how thirsty I am.

Neil Steinberg reacted in the manner that I fully expected - like a teenage girl told that she is 'not all that' and tosses the letterman sweater away. Given the spiralling state of newspapers, Neil Steinberg may have done well to hang on to that natty and quality garment.

At least, the 'toothless shuffling drug addict' will have a quality Champion warm-up and will appreciate Neil Steinberg.



http://www.suntimes.com/news/steinberg/1247379,CST-NWS-stein29.article

Jazz at Brando's! Terry Sullivan Sings The American S

Jan Schakowsky Recalls Torture!

“Rod Blagojevich has pulled together an unprecedented group that has unified all wings of the Democratic Party behind his call to improve our schools and make sure every senior citizen in Illinois can afford prescription drugs,” added Schakowsky.



"For tomorrows primary election, here are the candidates in contested races that I am supporting...Governor - Rod Blagojevich" -

Leo Lions Honor Commitment and Courage: William Koloseike Man of the Year!

I am on my way over to Leo High School to welcome home the 104 members of the Class of 1959, after the Jubilee Class revelled in the return of pals, many not seen by the classmates in fifty years.

Alumni President Rich Furlong, one last night's Hall of Fame Inductees, will lead bus loads of Leo Men and their wives over to 7901 S. Sangamon to tour the school that helped them launch their lives.

Ronnell Reynolds, the Chief Engineer of Leo High School, will have opened class rooms, the famous 'band box' gym on the third floor, the Leo Boxing Room -home to ten Golden Gloves Champions, the cafeteria that 50 years ago had been the Chapel of St. Leo which served as an annex chapel to the now closed St. Leo Parish, and the courtyard War Memorial and Shrine to Our Lady, where each year Leo High School Honors America's Veterans on the Friday before Veterans Day.

On the War Memorial is the name of nearly two-hundred Leo Men who died in the service to their Country - Pro Deo et Patria: for God and Country - is inscribed on the cornerstone of school set by Cardinal Mundelein in 1926. One of those names, Lt. Col. Thomas O'Dea*, reminds us of 'the full measure of devotion' exercised in living a courageous and committed life.

Last night more than 600 Leo Men paid tribute to the values that maintain Leo High School. Other Catholic high schools have closed, but Leo continues in the public imagination,because of the courage and commitment of thousands of Leo Men.

Leo High School brought generations of young men, most of them the sons of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Belgium and Germany, together in order to be 'led' (educare -in Latin)to an other directed life - a life beyond the self.

These tough and willful kids met Irish Christian Brothers, tasked with disciplining but also nurturing a love of science, art, literature, and most of all the Faith. The Christian Brothers are gone from Leo, but their presence remains in the spirit of the school and witnessed in the school's crest. Primarily, it may be witnessed in the lives of men who do for others. Last Night, William Koloseike '45, was named Leo Man of the Year.

Bill Koloseike, Bill Kay to Chicago's automobile buyers, was a hard-as-nails football player. Last night, Leo Hall of Famer Jerry Tourville, asked me to re-introduce him to the man who 'knocked him on his ass every day on the cinders and broken beer-bottles of Shewbridge Field.' Jerry played football at Colorado after he graduated from Leo and had not seen Bill Kay in decades. In that time Bill Koloseike has been a river of moral and financial support of Leo President Bob Foster, as well as a Jesuit Volunteer teacher and establishing a school for poor kids in Africa.

Bill Kay is about 5'6" and Jerry is about 6' in height. 'Jesus!'replied Mr. Tourville upon introduction, not in prayer,but in honor of the fierce impact the smaller man had in Mr. Tourville's life.

Bill Kay went into the Marines at the end of WWII, instead of playing college football. Another Leo Man and Leo Hall of Famer, Dick Prendergast '43 asked to meet Bill Koloseike. The last time these two men met was in April 1946 at Great Lakes Naval Station. The young Bill Koloseike processed ( 'mustered')Dick Prendergast out of the Marine Corps, after Dick's three years of combat as a forward oberserver ( Joint Assault Signal Company JASCO) all over the Pacific -Guam especially.

Leo Honored Bill Kay and Jack Hallberg and Jim Farrell another quiet hero who served in Vietnam as a Captain in the U.S.Army in Vietnam. Each of these men deflected the Honor bestowed upon him last night to Bob Foster, Leo President, who has remained the anchor to this great school and to the great Leo Alumni who lived and breathed the Spirit of the Lion and have gone Home to Christ- Dr. Thomas 'Doc'Driscoll, Jim Coogan and especially Jack Howard.

Nine Leo Men and a veteran teacher, Bob Schablaske, were inducted into the Hall of Fame 2009 Class.

600 and change Leo Men provide hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to Leo High School, so poor black kids who live in the same bungalows, three flats, and street-front apartments along 79th Street as the older white Leo men can develop character, courage and a deep sense of commitment as they had years before.

These are magnificent people.

Time to get over to Leo and make sure the men of 1959 get the tour they deserve.

* Click my post title for yesterdays tribute to Leo Men.

Bill Maher Goebbels Speaks!

If conservatives don't want to be seen as bitter people who cling to their guns and religion and anti-immigrant sentiments, they should stop being bitter and clinging to their guns, religion and anti-immigrant sentiments.

Our theme this evening is hotly disputed. I realize that my viewpoint is subjective. There is really little point to discussing propaganda. It is a matter of practice, not of theory. One cannot determine theoretically whether one propaganda is better than another. Rather, that propaganda is good that has the desired results, and that propaganda is bad that does not lead to the desired results. It does not matter how clever it is, for the task of propaganda is not to be clever, its task is to lead to success. I therefore avoid theoretical discussions about propaganda, for there is no point to it. Propaganda shows that it is good if over a certain period it can win over and fire up people for an idea. If it fails to do so, it is bad propaganda. If propaganda wins the people it wanted to win, it was presumably good, and if not, it was presumably bad. No one can say that your propaganda is too crude or low or brutal, or that it is not decent enough, for those are not the relevant criteria. Its purpose is not to be decent, or gentle, or weak, or modest; it is to be successful. That is why I have intentionally chosen to discuss propaganda along with a second theme, knowledge. Otherwise, our discussion this evening would be of little value. We have not gathered to discuss lovely theories, but rather to find ways of practically working together to deal with our everyday challenges.

It's been a week now, and I still don't know what those "tea bag" protests were about. I saw signs protesting abortion, illegal immigrants, the bank bailout and that gay guy who's going to win "American Idol." But it wasn't tax day that made them crazy; it was election day. Because that's when Republicans became what they fear most: a minority.

What is propaganda, and what role does it have in political life? That is the question of greatest interest to us. How should propaganda look, and what is its role in our movement? Is it an end in itself, or only a means to an end? We must discuss that, but we can do that only when we begin with the origin of propaganda itself, namely the idea, then move to the target of propaganda, namely people.

Ideas in themselves are timeless. They are not tied to individuals, much less to a people. They rest in a people, it is true, and affect their attitudes. Ideas, people say, are in the clouds. When someone comes along who can put in words what everyone feels in their hearts, each feels: "Yes! That is what I have always wanted and hoped for." That is what happens the first time one hears one of Hitler's major speeches. I have met people who had attended a Hitler meeting for the first time, and at the end they said: "This man put in words everything I have been searching for for years. For the first time, someone gave form to what I want." Others are lost in confusion, but suddenly someone stands up and puts it in words. Goethe's words become reality: "Lost in silent misery, God gave someone to express my suffering."

The conservative base is absolutely apoplectic because, because ... well, nobody knows. They're mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore. Even though they're not quite sure what "it" is. But they know they're fed up with "it," and that "it" has got to stop.

Here are the big issues for normal people: the war, the economy, the environment, mending fences with our enemies and allies, and the rule of law.

And here's the list of Republican obsessions since President Obama took office: that his birth certificate is supposedly fake, he uses a teleprompter too much, he bowed to a Saudi guy, Europeans like him, he gives inappropriate gifts, his wife shamelessly flaunts her upper arms, and he shook hands with Hugo Chavez and slipped him the nuclear launch codes.

Some kind of idea is at the beginning of every political movement. It is not necessary to put this idea in a thick book, nor that it take political form in a hundred long paragraphs. History proves that the greatest world movements have always developed when their leaders knew how to unify their followers under a short, clear theme. That is clear from the French Revolution, or Cromwell's movement, or Buddhism, Islam, or Christianity. Christ's goal was clear and simple: "Love your neighbor as yourself." He gathered his followers behind that straightforward statement. Because this teaching was simple, crisp, clear, and understandable, enabling the broad masses to stand behind it, it in the end conquered the world.

One then builds a whole system of thought on such a brief, crisply formulated idea. The idea does not remain limited to this single statement, rather it is applied to every aspect of daily life and becomes the guide for all human activity — politics, culture, the economy, every area of human behavior. It becomes a worldview. We see that in all great revolutionary movements, which begin with a clear, crisp, understandable, all-encompassing idea. They spread more and more and become a mirror of life that reflects all activities of the peoples, and indeed in a particular way.

Then one can say that a person has a worldview—not because he knows a lot or has read a lot—but because he sees all of life from a certain standpoint, and measures everything by a certain standard. I am a Christian when I believe that the meaning of my life is the heavy responsibility to love my neighbor as myself. Kant once said: "Act as if the principle of your life could be the principle for your entire nation." I am a National Socialist not when I want this or that from politics, rather when I consider all aspects of daily life. I must act in all things by putting the good of the whole above my personal good, by putting the good of the state above my personal good. But then I also have the guarantee that such a state will be able to protect my personal life. I am a National Socialist when I see everything in politics, culture or the economy from this standpoint. I therefore do not evaluate the theater from the standpoint of whether it is elegant or amusing, rather I ask: Is it good for my people, is it useful for them, does it strengthen the community? If so, the community in turn can benefit, support and strengthen me. I do not see the economy as some sort of way of making money, rather I want an economy that will strengthen the people, make them healthy and powerful. Then too I can expect that this people will support and maintain me. If I see things in this way, I see the economy in National Socialist terms.

Do these sound like the concerns of a healthy, vibrant political party?

It's sad what's happened to the Republicans. They used to be the party of the big tent; now they're the party of the sideshow attraction, a socially awkward group of mostly white people who speak a language only they understand. Like Trekkies, but paranoid.

The GOP base is convinced that Obama is going to raise their taxes, which he just lowered. But, you say, "Bill, that's just the fringe of the Republican Party." No, it's not. The governor of Texas, Rick Perry, is not afraid to say publicly that thinking out loud about Texas seceding from the Union is appropriate considering that ... Obama wants to raise taxes 3% on 5% of the people? I'm not sure exactly what Perry's independent nation would look like, but I'm pretty sure it would be free of taxes and Planned Parenthood. And I would have to totally rethink my position on a border fence.

I know. It's not about what Obama's done. It's what he's planning. But you can't be sick and tired of something someone might do.

Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota recently said she fears that Obama will build "reeducation" camps to indoctrinate young people. But Obama hasn't made any moves toward taking anyone's guns, and with money as tight as it is, the last thing the president wants to do is run a camp where he has to shelter and feed a bunch of fat, angry white people.

Look, I get it, "real America." After an eight-year run of controlling the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court, this latest election has you feeling like a rejected husband. You've come home to find your things out on the front lawn -- or at least more things than you usually keep out on the front lawn. You're not ready to let go, but the country you love is moving on. And now you want to call it a whore and key its car.

That's what you are, the bitter divorced guy whose country has left him -- obsessing over it, haranguing it, blubbering one minute about how much you love it and vowing the next that if you cannot have it, nobody will.

But it's been almost 100 days, and your country is not coming back to you. She's found somebody new. And it's a black guy.

The healthy thing to do is to just get past it and learn to cherish the memories. You'll always have New Orleans and Abu Ghraib. If someone tells me today: "You are a demagogue," I answer him in this way: "Demagogy in the good sense is simply the ability to get the masses to understand what I want them to understand." Of course, I can adjust to the feelings of the broad masses, which is demagogy in the bad sense. Then I change not only the form of what I want to say, but also the content.

You cannot tell me that things have changed. Formerly, speakers built movements; today we live in the age of the press, and it is the writers who are influential. This theory is obviously false. Of course the press is important. But if you examine well-written editorials, they turn out to be speeches in disguise. The Marxists did not win through their editorials, but rather because each Marxist editorial was a little propaganda speech. They were written by agitators. They sat in their offices or in smoke-filled bars, writing not elegant, intellectual and polished essays, but rather brutal, direct words that the average man understood. That is why the masses devoured the Red press. We must learn from their example. Marxism did not win because it had great prophets — they had none. Marxism won because its nonsense was promoted by agitators of the ability of August Bebel and Lenin. They led Marxism to victory. If the völkisch movement had had such agitators at its disposal, its stronger intellectual foundations would surely have led it to victory. Some critics complain: "All you do is criticize! You only complain. You can't do things any better yourselves!" Others say that "the Angriff [Goebbels's newspaper in Berlin] is entirely negative. Say something positive for a change." Well, I am not in a position to say anything positive about Isidor Weiss [the Jewish Vice Chief of Police in Berlin, and a regular Goebbels target]. I can only be negative. And there is nothing positive I can say about the Republic. There is nothing positive about it. I can say something positive only when I eliminate the negative. The most brilliant statesman on earth could do nothing with this Republic. And Marxism preached only the negative for sixty years. The result was that it took over the state on 9 November 1918. Hitler once said: "Keep those know-it-alls who always want to do something positive away from me." We can do something positive only when we have first gotten rid of the negative. A leader does not emerge from a conference table. He develops from the masses, and the more a true leader rises from the masses, the more he draws the masses to him. The mass is the weak, cowardly, lazy majority of people. One can never entirely win the broad mass. The best elements from the mass must be put in a form where they can be victorious. That is the task of a brilliant mind. We thank fate that it has given us one of these minds, a mind superior to all others, whom we willingly serve. That is the proof that we will win. If others find their wisdom in majority rule, but a movement is led by one person, that movement will win. When it wins is irrelevant. It will win because that is the way things are. Look around as much as you want. You will everywhere see our movement's intellectual foundations.

The task of the leaders and followers is to drive this knowledge ever deeper into the hearts of our shattered nation. Each must make that clear, each must think things through. Everything we do must be clear. We will never give up. If everything is clear, one does not have to be an outstanding speaker. If he can say it all in a few words, he is a propagandist. If we have an army of such propagandists, from the littlest to the Führer himself, and if each spreads our crystal-clear knowledge to the masses, the day will come which our worldview takes over the state, when our organization seizes the reins of power, when we are no longer members of a slave colony, but rather citizens of a political state that we ourselves have formed.

That is our task on this planet: to create the foundation on which our people can live. When we do that, this nation will create works of culture that will endure for eons in world history!

And if today's conservatives are insulted by this, because they feel they're better than the people who have the microphone in their party, then I say to them what I would say to moderate Muslims: Denounce your radicals. To paraphrase George W. Bush, either you're with them or you're embarrassed by them.

The thing that you people out of power have to remember is that the people in power are not secretly plotting against you. They don't need to. They already beat you in public.The important thing is not to find people who agree with me about every theoretical jot and tittle, but rather that I find people who are willing to fight with me for a worldview. Winning people over to something that I have recognized as right, that is what we call propaganda. At first there is knowledge; it uses propaganda to find the manpower that will transform knowledge into politics. Propaganda stands between the idea and the worldview, between the worldview and the state, between the individual and the party, between the party and the nation. At the moment at which I recognize something as important and begin speaking about it in the streetcar, I begin making propaganda. At the same moment, I begin looking for other people to join me. Propaganda stands between the one and the many, between the idea and the worldview. Propaganda is nothing other than the forerunner to organization. Once it has done this, it is the forerunner to state control. It is always a means to an end.

Bill Maher is the host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

What a Juice Bag!


http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-maher24-2009apr24,0,927819.story



http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/goeb54.htm

Leo Hall of Fame Honoree - Lt. Col. Tom O'Dea, Vietnam Hero

Leo High School at 7901 S. Sangamon is the home of heroes - thousands of them. Leo Men remain committed to providing an education for poor kids from their old neighborhoods. Leo High School serves African American young men from Auburn/Gresham, Englewood, Brainerd, Grand Crossing and Chatham with a college preparatory education that sends 93% of our guys on to great colleges and universities.

Leo Men are aging white, Catholic middle class guys. They might have left the neighborhood, many to go to war for America, but they never left their school nor the kids who are a different color than them and tend to worship at different churches than the Catholic boys who went here decades ago. Ninety-nine and nine tenths percent of the financial aid coming to the one hundred percent black kids comes from these white Catholic gentlemen.

Tonight Leo honors a body of men who exemplify the school's motto -Facta Non Verba -Deeds Not Words. Among the honorees that includes a former Leo principal, the current Leo Alumni President, a long-time Leo teacher/coach,the CEO of the John Buck Company, a basketball icon, a rock-ribbed union tradesman, a Chicago Fire Department Hero, an Oil Company executive, and the manager of Florida Marlins is a fallen hero of the Vietnam War.

Read Erin Mattingly's moving tribute to her grandfather, Col Tom O'Dea!

I'm headed to Chicago this weekend for an incredible event. Thomas Francis O'Dea, my mom's father and my Papa, is being inducted into his high school hall of fame at Leo Catholic High School in Chicago. It's incredible enough to think that, if he was alive, at the age of 82 my Papa is being recognized by the high school he left in 1944, but it's even more incredible considering Papa's history...
Papa was a military career man, much like most of the men on both sides of my family. My mom talks about Papa as a brilliant man. One who knew 7 languages. One who tutored mom through math in elementary school and encouraged his children to get their education. One who wrote her letters while serving overseas telling her to study had, be a good girl, and help Nana. One who loved my Nana and made her the best person she could be.
He went to Leo Catholic High School, where he served as class President and editor of the yearbook

(his granddaughter was editor of the good ole' Ottawa Hills yearbook, too!) (he's the good looking one in the upper left corner... Apparently I have his nose!)

Unfortunately, I never had the joy of knowing my Papa. I found this online and thought it summed up best the legacy that my Papa left when he was killed serving in Vietnam on December 25, 1968:

2 January 1969 - Army Lieutenant Colonel Thomas F. O'Dea, Jr. knew what it was like to be fighting a war thousands of miles away from home on Christmas Day - the loneliness, longing, and fear. He was a career soldier, and Christmas found him him acting as military advisor in Tay Hinh province northwest of Saigon.That morning he climbed into a helicopter to fly over the province and wish his men a Merry Christmas.It was his last mission. He was killed when the Viet Cong shot his helicopter down. He was 42.Lieutenant Colonel O'Dea of 10120 Morgan Street, Chicago, left a wife, Roberta; and four children, Thomas 18; Cynthia 15; Therese, 12, and Sandra 8.

My mom is Therese. As I've mentioned in previous posts, whenever I go up to DC, I go to visit my Papa and Nana at Arlington National Cemetery, under their oak tree. And whenever Phil takes me on his awesome running route through the Monuments, we stop at the Vietnam Memorial and touch Papa's name and say a quick prayer. And although I feel like I know the legacy of the man from what my mom has told me, I'm really looking forward to meeting those who knew him back in high school. Apparently, his best friend from high school will be sitting at our table Friday night. I know my mom is thrilled to celebrate his life with his friends, my Dad, Phil, and me and I can't wait to get to know Papa even more through the stories and reminiscing of his years at Leo High. Chi-town, watch out, the O'Dea/Mattinglys are coming to town!

*Leo High School Hall of Fame Class of 2009
James Corbett – 1952
Bob Kman – 1959
Tony Parker -1973
Bob Schablaske –Faculty
Mike Coyle – 1958
John Eckenstein – 1951
John Boles -1966
Rich Furlong -1959
John O'Donnell -1968

Lt. Col. Thomas J. O'Dea (posthumous) -1944


Click my post title for hundreds of more Leo Heroes!

The Nutbags( Pelosi,Kerry,& etc.) Want an American MiniTru -Ministry of Their Truth - I Wish I Had the Neumatic Tube Concession for the Memory Holes!

The Ministry of Truth is involved with news media, entertainment, the fine arts and educational books. Its purpose is to rewrite history and change the facts to fit party doctrine, for propaganda effect. For example, if Big Brother makes a prediction that turns out to be wrong, the employees of the Ministry of Truth go back and rewrite history so that any prediction Big Brother previously made is accurate. This is the "how" of the Ministry of Truth's existence. Within the novel Orwell elaborates that the deeper reason for its existence is to maintain the illusion that the party is absolute. It cannot ever seem to change its mind (if, for instance, they perform one of their constant changes regarding enemies during war) or make a mistake (firing an official or making a grossly misjudged supply prediction), for that would imply weakness and to maintain power the party must seem eternally right and strong.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Truth

Boy, does that have a familiar ring to it - truth. 'We did not Bow - The President was looking for nickels on the carpet!' & 'We do not want to look in the rearview mirror to that 'dark chapter in American history,' when we stopped . . .what's Napolitano call terrorists now? . . .Oh Yeah, . . .threats both foreign and domestic, both natural and manmade . . . I put this Hummer in Reverse to Roll over the Bush-ies!'

The Congress and it seems the Obama Administration want to develop a MiniTru - Ministry of Truth with the bailout of newspapers.

Influential Los Angeles Times columnist Rosa Brooks has hung up her journalistic hat and joined the Obama administration, but not before penning a public proposal calling for some radical ideas to help bail out the failing news industry.

Brooks, who has taken up a post as an adviser at the Pentagon, advocated upping "direct government support for public media" and creating licenses to govern news operations.

"Years of foolish policies have left us with a choice: We can bail out journalism, using tax dollars and granting licenses in ways that encourage robust and independent reporting and commentary, or we can watch, wringing our hands, as more and more top journalists are laid off," she wrote in her parting column on April 9.

Brooks said this would help rescue the industry from a "death spiral" and left the government unaccountable to the journalists who must keep it honest. "[I] can't imagine anything more dangerous than a society in which the news industry has more or less collapsed," she wrote.

Then we hear from the WindSurfer ( my Last National Democratic Vote Tossed in the Crapper to Him) John Kerry,"there will also be serious consequences for our democracy where diversity of opinion and strong debate are paramount." Oh Yeah.

Free Press owned by the government is not a Free Press -Free Press is a term to describe news reporting that is allowed to be honest & truthful; as opposed to news that is forced to twist facts or lie. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_free_press

We don't need a Government owned Railroad ( High Speed Rail)

We don't need a MiniTru.

Free Market Capitalists develop, finance and run railroads and newspapers. Freely. Free to Succeed and Free to Fail.

We need a competent government - that is Change We Need to Believe In - or Vote for It next time.

America! before MSNBC and Its Obsession with Self-Loathing

Long before American Military would be pilloried on the nightly news, abused by the screeching of Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, David Schuester and Rachel Maddow; before Ward Churchill, Bill Ayers and SEIU became the templates for Community Service. Americans proudly jumped at the chance to valorize Patriotism.

America has had its head shoved downward to contemplate re-constituted American History by academics, politicians in the pockets of Advocacy Agendas, and compliant journalists.

Max Weismann of the Center for the Study of Great Ideas founded, ironically enough at the University of Chicago, by America's greatest Thomas Aquinas scholar, Mortimer Adler, sent me this remarkable photo from World War One Era America.

The troops at Fort Dodge, Iowa created this remarkable photograph - without the aid of PhotoShop.

CLICK THIS PHOTO FOR A STUNNING VIEW!

FACTS: Standing Tall for Liberty 1918 -Fort Dodge, Iowa

Base to Shoulder: 150 feet
Right Arm: 340 feet
Widest part of arm holding torch: 12 1/2 feet
Right thumb: 35 feet
Thickest part of body: 29 feet
Left hand length: 30 feet
Face: 60 feet
Nose: 21 feet
Longest spike of head piece: 70 feet
Torch and flame combined: 980 feet
Number of men in torch: 2,800
Number of men in right arm: 1,200
Number of men in body, head and balance of figure only: 2,000

Total men: 18,000

Celebrate Earth Day - Eat a Critter - Al Gore Will!

Henry David Thoreau is a hump. I used to love teaching Walden and present HDT as the phony self-absorbed goof that he was in life.

Walden, like The Social Contract was the work of a rock-ribbed hypocrite and self-absorbed narcissist -which is why these Romantic idiots, Thoreau and Rousseau, are so popular among the soul-patched-knit-hat, Venti gulping activist crowd.

Thoreau never did a damn thing for anyone on this planet - spare me the Night Thoreau Spent in Jail BS over the racist Mexican War (that was a damn fine War and no one in California is beefing about it but the Commies). He was a rich back-stabbing hump who chronicled his log cabin manliness - like the sissy he was. A real guy would do and clam up about it. The only clown in history of thought lower in my estimation than Thoreau would be Rousseau - a louse of the first order - followed closely by Sir Francis Bacon.

Thoreau is the Patron Saint of Earth Day. A phony-assed PC bit of nonsense, swooned over by nit-wits that read parts of books and learn everything else by redaction.

So, today I took my Carbon Footprint Test.

Me and the Kids are way below where we should be. This year I'll Make Big Foot wish he had my Carbon Foot Print!

Your Carbon Footprint:
House 2.70 tonnes of CO2
Flights 0.47 tonnes of CO2
Car 4.10 tonnes of CO2
Motorbike 0.00 tonnes of CO2
Bus & Rail 0.00 tonnes of CO2
Secondary 36.68 tonnes of CO2

Your footprint is 43.94 tonnes, which equates to 3.99 tonnes per year
The average footprint for people in United States is 20.40 tonnes
The average for the industrial nations is about 11 tonnes
The average worldwide carbon footprint is about 4 tonnes
The worldwide target to combat climate change is 2 tonnes


Total = 43.94 tonnes of CO2

Kids, Crank Up the Jam! Turn on the Lights! The Carbon Hickeys Gonna Par-Tay Tonight!
Fois Gras Pizza it is!
Photo of Hickey Footprint Above!

Hickey's 1,000th Post - With Johnny Rivers and Orestes Brownson

Looks like I batted out a grand of these posts. Good practice and exercises each morning along with my prayers and devotions amid sets of 100 push-ups/pull ups/sit-ups and throw-ups. Toweling off the beads of sweat and penitential droplets of tears, I think of what to write about usually after a bracing cup of hot coffee from Kean or perhaps a hotter bit of news.

I work in the poor side of town and have the greatest regard for the families who struggle to meet tuition costs with the heroic help of the Leo Alumni. This is a BS-free Black and White Educational Coalitional - no Progressive helps in any way, shape, or form.

So to celebrate, click my post title for vintage Johnny Rivers* and read some youthful 19th Century American Thought by a guy buried at Sared Heart Chapel at Notre Dame, but by Progressive intellectual bigots - Orestes Brownson.

From Protestant Journalism in Brownson's Quarterly Review

We distinguish between the journal and the newspaper. The newspaper originated some three hundred years ago, if we are not mistaken, in the commercial city of Venice, and was designed chiefly to communicate such intelligence as was of special interest to merchants and bankers, or, as we say now, to the business classes. Gradually it enlarged its scope, especially when transferred to England, and gave political intelligence, as well as banking and mercantile information; but it confined itself to giving current news, and avoided all political and other discussions. It grew naturally out of the invention and general adoption of the art of printing, and simply superseded the intelligence which had been, from time immemorial, communicated by written instead of printed letters. The newspaper was not only a harmless, but a useful invention.

The journal may indeed publish news, but it is not by any means a newspaper. It is of recent origin, and owes its birth to the French revolution of 1789, that fountain of so many evils, and, to human eyes, of no good. The design of the journal is to influence and control public opinion, and, through public opinion, to influence and control public action. The public to which it is addressed may be a party, a faction, a coteric, or a sect, but its design is always to influence and control the thought and action of its public, whether its public be larger or smaller; and it seeks to do this by discussion, by arguments addressed to reason or prejudice, and by declamation, or inflammatory appeals to passion. The so-called independent journalism, represented by such journals as the N. Y. Herald, the N. Y. Tribune, and the N. Y. Sun of this city, professes to be independent of all parties, sects, and cliques, and to set forth the views and convictions of its management alone, or what its management believes, or pretends to believe, is for the public interest. But it must have popular support, a wide popular circulation, and, to gain this, it must court popular opinion, and study not to outrage popular prejudice. It can afford to have no unpopular principles, nor to support an unpopular cause. Indeed it cannot afford to have any principles, especially any religious principles, for any decided principles are sure to be unpopular with one or another section of the public. It, in fact, has no positive religion of any sort; and whatever religion it favors, is so vague and indeterminate that it is as good as none at all. Its influence in regard to religion is either to encourage infidelity pure and simple, or perfect indifferentism. Its religions is secularism, and it is less really independent and more fatal to all the great interests of society than even the partisan or sectarian press.

Satan never made a better hit than when he invented independent journalism; and the New York Herald, which so admirably represents the spirit of the age, should be, as we have no doubt it is, a great favorite with him. None but a renegade or bad Catholic could ever have founded and sustained such a marvellous journal; nor could even a bad Catholic have done it without extraordinary satanic assistance. The very design of the journal is satanic. It throws the forming and directing of public opinion and action into the hands of men who are responsible only to the laws, and hardly to them; who have and can give no guaranty of their wisdom, who scout all authority but their own, and proceed always on the assumption of their own infallibility, and that of the public to which they appeal. Independent journalism is Protestantism raised to its highest power, the deification of private judgment, and a fitting forerunner of Antichrist. Its power is immense, and its despotism is in proportion to its power. . . .

The greatest difficulty a Catholic reviewer encounters is in convincing Catholic laymen and journalists that catholic means catholic. The difficulty is almost as great as that of convincing certain routinist philosophers that nothing is nothing, not something. If religion is catholic, it is supreme and universal, the supreme law in every department of life, extending to every species of human activity. Whether we eat or drink, whether we sleep or wake, whatever we do, we are to do it for the glory of God. The goods of this life, whether national or political, social or economical, are never secured, or, if secured, cease to be goods,

http://www.orestesbrownson.com/index.php?id=5

* Poor Side of Town was a signal to every hormone bursting (abeit, tempered by a Powerful Catholic counter-balance of moral and ethical dignity and the gentling balm of our better natures) south side male (circa 1967) that a 'two-hander' dance would put you in close proximity to the iconic beauties of parish life - Sharon Monahan, Nancy McNicholas, Marita McEnery, Joanne Stefanu, Carolyn Velos, Cynthia Prochaska, Shirley Ward, Rose Proszak, Dianne Zackevich, Denise O'Malley, Ginny O'Malley, Eileen O'Connor, Michele Fiscelli, and Mary Gill. As the needle cut through those grooves, young men were transported to Elysium** - in Little Flower Gym, Leo Cafeteria, and at Mendel, Marist, Brother Rice and I am sure at the public schools.


"Poor Side Of Town," signaled a significant change in Johnny Rivers' musical direction. "I had this tune I'd been working on, and I kept playing it for Lou," Rivers says. "It took me about six months to finish. We cut it with Larry Knechtel, Joe Osborn and Hal Blaine. I did my vocal performances live with the band. I sat and played my guitar and sang. There weren't any overdubs. So we said it could use some singers and maybe some strings. That's the time we got together with (arranger) Marty Paich."

Paich, who arranged for Mel Torme and Ray Charles, put lavish strings on "Poor Side.'' However, Adler and Rivers found Imperial reluctant to tamper with a winning formula. "Al Bennett and those guys were goin' 'Man. don't start comin' out with ballads. You're gonna kill your career. You got a good thing goin' with this funky trio rock sound, stay with that."' "Poor Side Of Town" became Rivers' first #1 record.

http://www.johnnyrivers.com/hits.html

**

And those that have three times kept to their oaths,
Keeping their souls clean and pure,
Never letting their hearts be defiled by the taint
Of evil and injustice,
And barbaric venality,
They are led by Zeus to the end:
To the palace of Kronos

Hell, we usually went to Atlas Hamburgers at 79th & Winchester.

Three Card Monte With President Obama

WASHINGTON — President Obama on Tuesday left open the door to creating a bipartisan commission that would investigate the Bush administration’s use of harsh interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects, and he did not rule out taking action against the lawyers who fashioned the legal guidelines for the interrogations.

Pressure Grows to Investigate Interrogations (April 21, 2009)
The latest on President Obama, the new administration and other news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion.

Mr. Obama, who has been saying that the nation should look ahead rather than focusing on the past, said he is “not suggesting” that a commission be established.

But in response to questions from reporters in the Oval Office, he said, “if and when there needs to be a further accounting,” he hoped that Congress would examine ways to obtain one “in a bipartisan fashion,” from people who are independent and therefore can build credibility with the public.

or as Rahm Emmanuel said two days ago,

EMANUEL: 'Yes, but those who devised policy, he believes that they were -- should not be prosecuted either, and that's not the place that we go -- as he said in that letter, and I would really recommend people look at the full statement -- not the letter, the statement -- in that second paragraph, "this is not a time for retribution." It's time for reflection. It's not a time to use our energy and our time in looking back and any sense of anger and retribution.' (This Week, ABC News, April 19, 2009)

or, ANY and EVERY Person who served in the George W. Bush Administrations 2000-2008 - Lawyer Up!

You think Water Boarding is Torture? Now, this will be Torture!

Lard-Asses and Methane Gases! Al Gore and Mike Moore Give Cheeseburgers Passes!

Lard Asses are Rocking the Green Boat! As the Tubby Stubby Kaye sang in Guys and Dolls:

I sailed away on that little boat to heaven
And by some chance found a bottle in my fist
And there I stood,Nicely passin' out the whisky
But the passengers were bound to resisist
For the people all said beware
You're on a heavenly trip
People all said beware
Beware, you'll scuttle the ship.
And the devil will drag you under
By the fancy tie 'round your wicked throat
Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down
Sit down, you're rockin' the boat

Green Hates Lard - 'Carbon FootPrint! Carbon Footprint! Kill Them or at least render the lard down to something useful!' Says The Sweating Toned, Geek Bike-Hatted Progressive, Hot from the Cross Bar of His Schwinn Phantom ( fenderlight, springer fork, chrome fenders, tank, rack, chainguard, balloon tires, and large saddle--all hallmarks of cruiser bikes.)1954~!

Dr Phil Edwards, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Moving about in a heavy body is like driving in a gas guzzler.”

Each fat person is said to be responsible for emitting a tonne more of climate-warming carbon dioxide per year than a thin one.

It means an extra BILLION TONNES of CO2 a year is created, according to World Health Organisation estimates of overweight people.

The scientists say providing extra grub for them to guzzle adds to carbon emissions that heat up the world, melting polar ice caps, raising sea levels and killing rain forests. The environmental impact of fat humans is made even worse because they are more likely to travel by car — another major cause of carbon emissions.

Progressives the World Round Hate Overweight Folks - who tend to be married with children ( Fatties Don't Seem to Abort!), pay mortgages instead of rent ( are not transient demographics), tend to smoke and drink beer and do not have memberships in health clubs - Demographer Joel Kotkin explained this years ago -

The new progressivism reflects largely the narcissism of its political base in the urban core and a few elite suburbs. Liberal “progressive” activists in affluent,largely childless places like San Francisco, Manhattan, Seattle, Portland, and Boston see the world as needing simply to become more like themselves. As The
Stranger, a Seattle weekly, put it, they perceive themselves as “islands of sanity,
liberalism and compassion” compared with the suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas
where “people are fatter and slower and dumber. “

That is why Lard Asses pay more on United Airlines - unless you happen to be Al Gore, Keith Olbermann or Mike Moore - Progressive Lard asses!

Olbermann & Maddow Seek Joint Custody of Somali Pirate Waif - Our Own MSNBC Canute!

Abduhl Wali-i-Musi has captured the hearts of MSNBC and they will want you to know that -'It's Alright to Pour Out Your Heart to Abduhl Wali-i-Musi !'

Two Single - UnMarried ( He Can't Get a Date and She Can't Get a License-for Now!) -MSNBC Anchors Rachel Maddow and Tubby Olbermann have opened their hearts to the Kid from the Horn! The Kid with the Heart to Know that Seals Were About to Light Up His Life! Abduhl Wali-i-Musi our Own American Canute ( you know the! . . .The Squarehead Polar Bear Cub) who will Steal our Hearts after Stealing our Ship!'

Show the Love! Laughter is harder... Discover where the emotion is...the friendship is...and the laughter is...Abduhl Wali-i-Musi is here to stay and get richer than Johnny Depp! . . .And He Will!!!!! The Pirate Who Will Scuttle Your Heart -Abduhl-Wali-i-Musi - A Smile That Can Light Up a Room -Dropped the AK-47 to Light Up Sailors!

Friendship is stronger... Trust is deeper... When it comes from the heart. Abduhl Wali-i-Musi MSNBC's Heart is Yours! CNN wanted it but they keep tripping over their own wee-wees as we say here.

This story has got Oscars written all over it!!! Boffo!

Rosie O'Donnell IS Keith Olbermann!

Sean Penn is Rachel Maddow - Together on the Big Screen and DVD's Pirated in Asia!

How about Alec Baldwin as Little Abduhl Wali-i-Musi and Susan Sarandon as His Ma? Bill Maher the Narration!

Kids! Get Dad's Story Board and a Twelve Pack of Leinie!

These Two Terrorists Were Water Boarded 266 Times- That's All??????

President Obama ordered that all documents reveal everything about the shocking treatment our guests in Gitmo were treated to and frankly, I am shocked.

You mean to tell me that these two were only watreboards 266 times between them? These two mopes* merit more wet and wild! Much, much more! The Waterboarding Park is Closed Permanently - well, until 2012 anyway.

It'll be back open.

*

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11th attacks, a man who called himself a "jackal" and who explained away the 3,000 victims of that day by saying "the language of war is victims." At least that is what he has told American interrogators, and what he said at a closed hearing in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, after being held in secret prisons for close to four years.

On Dec. 8, 2008, Mr. Mohammed, along with four co-defendants, sent a note to a military judge at Guantánamo asking to confess and to plead guilty.

Mr. Mohammed, an ethnic Baluchi, was born in Kuwait on April 24, 1965. He is the uncle of Ramzi Yousef, mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombings. After graduation from secondary school, he enrolled at Chowan College in Murfreesboro, N.C. and then transferred to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He graduated in 1986, earning a degree in mechanical engineering.

According to the 9/11 Commission Report, his only involvement with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing was conversations with Mr. Yousef, and some contributions to the conspirators. He traveled to the Philippines with Mr. Yousef in 1994 and worked on the Bojinka plot -- a plan to explode 12 commercial jets over the Pacific. They also made plans to assassinate President Clinton on his November 1994 trip to Manila. The Bojinka plot fell apart and in 1995 Mr. Yousef was arrested in Pakistan.

Mr. Mohammed was indicted in the United States on charges stemming from the Manila plot, but he eluded the F.B.I. in Qatar in 1996. He fled to Afghanistan and met with Osama Bin Laden, where he proposed a plan to train pilots to crash 10 planes into targets in the United States. Mr. bin Laden was not persuaded but he asked Mr. Mohammed to join Al Qaeda, an offer he declined. After the 1998 African embassy bombings by Al Qaeda, however, he accepted Osama’s invitation to move to Afghanistan and pursue the 9/11 plan.

In addition to directing the 9/11 plot, Mr. Mohammed was involved in several other plans, according to the 9/11 report, including sending Dhiren Barot to the U.S. to check out targets in New York City, as well as plans for attacks in Israel, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

In October 2001, Mr. Mohammed became one of the 22 men on the FBI’s list of most wanted terrorists As an operations chief for Al Qaeda, he launched plots including a suicide hijacking over the Pacific and plans to blow up gas stations and bridges (according to Defense Department documents).

He was captured on March 1, 2003 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. For the next several years, Mr. Mohammed was held in secret prisons run by the Central Intelligence Agency. In September 2006, Mr. Mohammed and 13 other “high value’’ Al Qaeda prisoners were transferred to the detention center in Guantánamo.

At a hearing held there released in March 2007, Mr. Mohammed took full credit for the 9/11 attacks and a number of other plots. He also asserted that he had personally decapitated Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. The scope of his confessions led some human-rights advocates to wonder if they reflected the effect of his captivity and harsh interrogation. Other intelligence experts wondered if he were claiming so much to provide cover for former colleagues who might have been involved.

The Times reported on April 20, 2009, that a 2005 Justice Department internal memo said that the C.I.A. used waterboarding 183 times in March 2003 against Mr. Mohammed. The Times reported in 2007 that Mr. Mohammed had been barraged more than 100 times with harsh interrogation methods, causing C.I.A. officers to worry that they might have crossed legal limits and to halt his questioning. But the precise number and the exact nature of the interrogation method was not previously known.

The release of the numbers is likely to become part of the debate about the morality and efficacy of interrogation methods that the Justice Department under the Bush administration declared legal even though the United States had historically treated them as torture.

Related: Osama Bin Laden | Sept. 11, 2001

Abu Zubaydah was captured in Pakistan in March 2002 after a gunfight with Pakistani security officers backed by F.B.I. and C.I.A. officers. Bush administration officials portrayed him as a Qaeda leader. That judgment was reflected in an Aug. 1, 2002, legal opinion signed by Jay S. Bybee, then head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel.

The memo summarized the C.I.A.'s judgment that Abu Zubaydah, then 31, had risen rapidly to "third or fourth man in Al Qaeda" and had served as "senior lieutenant" to Osama bin Laden. It said he had "managed a network of training camps" and had been "involved in every major terrorist operation carried out by Al Qaeda."

The memo reported the C.I.A.'s portrayal of "a highly self-directed individual who prizes his independence," a deceptive narcissist, healthy and tough, who agency officers believed was the most senior terrorist caught since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In April 2009, the release of a 2005 Justice Department legal memorandum revealed that C.I.A. interrogators used waterboarding at least 83 times against him in August 2002 - and that the interrogation technique had been ordered based on a highly inflated assessment of his importance.

An article in The Times on April 18, 2009, said that Abu Zubaydah had revealed nothing new after being waterboarded. A former C.I.A. officer, John Kiriakou, told ABC News and other news media organizations in 2007 that Abu Zubaydah had undergone waterboarding for only 35 seconds before agreeing to tell everything he knew. In April 2009, Mr. Kiriakou disputed the Times article, saying that he believed that after unspecified "techniques" were used, Abu Zubaydah revealed information that led to the capture of another terrorist suspect, Ramzi Binalshibh.

The Times article, based on information from former intelligence officers who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Abu Zubaydah had revealed a great deal of information before harsh methods were used and after his captors stripped him of clothes, kept him in a cold cell and kept him awake at night. The article said interrogators at the secret prison in Thailand believed he had given up all the information he had, but officials at headquarters ordered them to use waterboarding.

The United States had first begun interrogating him, according to multiple accounts, in Pakistan, and continued the interrogation at a secret C.I.A. site in Thailand, with a traditional, rapport-building approach led by two F.B.I. agents, who even helped care for him as his gunshot wounds healed. Abu Zubaydah gave up perhaps his single most valuable piece of information early, naming Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, whom he knew as Mukhtar, as the main organizer of the 9/11 plot.

The conclusion that he revealed no new information after being waterboarded appears to be supported by a footnote to a 2005 Justice Department memo saying the use of the harshest methods appeared to have been "unnecessary" in his case. An official with direct knowledge of the case told The Times that watching his torment caused great distress to his captors.

Andy Stern's SEIU Murders School Reform and Buys A Lotto!

Here's Andy looking down on his membership! They can Blackmail a Bank, Buy a Lotto and Kill School Reform with their Dues! Now, That's Collectivist Bargaining!

Andy Stern is busier than a dog gifted by nature with a surplus of male reproductive appendages!

1. Stern is out to Destroy Charter Schools and Murder School Reform in Chicago

2. Andy Stern's SEIU is blackmailing Bank of America CEO into backing Card Check Legislation

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26649c82-2d44-11de-8710-00144feabdc0.html

3. Andy Stern and Ivy League Commies of the SEIU Leadership are Buying the California Lottery

SEIU donates to lottery ballot measure
By Anthony York | 04/17/09 12:00 AM PST

The state’s largest public employee union has given $300,000 to the campaign for Proposition 1C, the lottery modernization measure that would allow the state to borrow up to $5 billion from lottery proceeds.

The money comes as deep divisions swirl among the Service Employees International Union over how to play in the May 19 special election. SEIU’s state council has opposed Proposition 1A, the state spending limit measure, and opened an account earlier this week to launch a formal campaign against 1A.

But SEIU has endorsed Proposition 1C, and a spokesman for Local 1000 said it makes sense for the union to support the measure.

“Our position on Prop 1C is consistent with our position that the state of California could be generating more money out of the lottery if it had a different managerial structure,” said Local 1000 spokesman Jim Zamora.

SEIU’s contribution did not go to the committee controlled by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political team, which is pushing for passage of all of the May 19 measures. Instead, the money went to a committee sponsored by GTECH, a Rhode Island-based company that contracts to supply lottery equipment to the state.

Roger Salazar, a spokesman for the Yes on 1C committee, welcomed news of the contribution. “One thing we all agree on is that if we can generate additional state revenues without tax increases, it makes sense for everyone,” Salazar said.

But the big question remains the extent to which the state council will fund the No on Proposition 1A campaign.

Stay tuned.
« Done

Rich-urd Da Turd - Uh ShakesPeer Story Sed'n Ol' Days

CHICAGO - In honor of William Shakespeare's upcoming birthday, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has proclaimed "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" in the city.
Although Shakespeare's actual birth date is not known, many scholars believe it to have been on April 23, 1564, since the poet and playwright is known to have been baptized three days later. This year, April 23 is Thursday. In his recent proclamation, Daley urged Chicagoans to celebrate the occasion by bringing the spoken words of Shakespeare into their daily lives. Shakespeare, who died in 1616,

Now's Da winner of R disconten'
Made Glor Yus summer by Dis sun a York; (Sunna York? Was Dis? Okay.)
En a clouds that lour'd upon R house
In Da deep bo-sum of da oshun berry'd.
Now R R brows boun' wit victor-yus wreats;
R broos'd R'ms hung-up fur mon-Yaments;
R stern alarums chayng'd ta merry meetin's, (Merry Meetin' Never Seen One)
R dredful marches to da--lightful meshurs.

Hey, All did stuff is gettin goofier !
Look, We got the Read a Book already on
Cable Access! Okay!!!!!!!Jackie, Rememer' who
Signs Yer Checks! . . .

Grim-visig'd war hat smoo'd his wrinkld frunt;
En now, 'stead a mountin' barbered studs
Ta fright da souls a fearful adversaries,
He capers nim'ly in a lady's chamber ( Dis is goin' too far Look I' Gay Mayer an Alll But I gotta go out at night en all !)

To the lasivus pleasin of a lude.
Bud eye, dat am't shap'd fur sportive tricks, ( Dat Hooker Talk?)
Normade ta court a am'r'us lookin'-glass;
I, dat am rudely stamp'd, en wan love's madgessteey
Ta strut before a wantin ambling nymph; ( Jezzus D'll Kill me Wit Dis!)
I, dat am curtail'd of this fair pruporshun,
Cheated of feature by dissemblin' naychure,
Daformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
En Dat so lam'ly and unfash'nable
Dat dogs bark at me as I halt by Dem; ( en fine out wooz lettin' Dogs Run Loose aroun' here! I'll getiz Card Yank'd)
Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun
And descant on mine own deformity:
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain dese fair well-spok'n days,
I am determinta prove a villain
En hate da idle pleasures of dese days.
Plods have I laid, induckshuns daneg-rus,
By drunk'n prof-sees, lie-bells n dreams,
Ta set my brudder Clare-rence . . .I god a Mike n a Billy n a Johnny -no Brudder Clare-rence . . .and Da king Dat's Me!)
In deadlee hate da one against da udder:
Anif King Edward ( dat's a Ol' Cigar Ain't It?) be as true an just
As I'm subtle, false en trech-russ, ( Jackie Did Dat Basturd Kass Write Dis en Trow Id In?)
Dis day should Clare-rence clos'ly be mew'd up, ( Clarence Gotta Cat?)
Abouda proph'cy, which says that 'G' ( Dat's Fitzy Ain'Id?)
Of Edwerd's heirs the murd'rer shall be.
Dive, thoughts, down ta my soul: here ( points)
Clarence comes. ( Comes Where? I can' wade'll dis day's over!)

Happy St. Alphege's Day & President Barack Unræd: St.Alphege, Pray for Us!

I love Mass at Sacred Heart, the little French Mission Chapel located east of Morgan Park at 116th % Church Street. It is a rickety little place, rickety simple souls pray for their families and community.

Mass is always said by retired priests of the Archdiocese or from the Missions. Smart old guys with miles of experience and leagues of learning.

Today's Gospel came from John - odd ball stuff usually. The tale of doubting Thomas and etc. but the treat came in the homily about St. Alphege* - English monk, hermit, abbot and adviser to King Ethelred.

King Ethelred the Unready sent Alphege to treat with the invading Danes. Ethelred the Unready. I went back to my Bright's Old English Grammar and Reader after Mass and recalled that unready or Unræd means -badly advised. Despite Alphrege's piety and learning the members of Witan (Anglo Saxon Council) pushed Ethelred to policies that caused England's enemies to defeat it at every turn Ethelred means 'Wise Council,' but the unfortunate kings full name is Æþelræd Unræd or 'Wise Council Unadvised.'

This put me in mind of President Obama a talented man Unready for the Presidency and Mal-Advised - or Advised by the Unwise.
President Obama The Unready - Barack Unræd

I do Hope that I am wrong. So, far President Obama has lived up to my very low expectations. Good Lord talk about unwise advice!

Janet Napolitano
Tim Geithner
Hillary 'Pirates Make Me Giggle' Clinto
Eric 'Y'all Cowards' Holder



Mad world! mad kings! mad composition!
John, to stop Arthur's tide in the whole,
Hath willingly departed with a part;
And France, whose armour conscience buckled on,
Whom zeal and charity brought to the field
As God's own soldier, rounded in the ear
With that same purpose-changer, that sly devil,
That broker that still breaks the pate of faith,
That daily break-vow, he that wins of all,
Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids,
Who having no external thing to lose
But the word 'maid,' cheats the poor maid of that;
That smooth-fac'd gentleman, tickling commodity,
Commodity, the bias of the world—
The world, who of itself is peised well,
Made to run even upon even ground,
Till this advantage, this vile-drawing bias,
This sway of motion, this commodity,
Makes it take head from all indifferency,
From all direction, purpose, course, intent—
And this same bias, this commodity,
This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word,
Clapp'd on the outward eye of fickle France,
Hath drawn him from his own determin'd aid,
From a resolv'd and honourable war,
To a most base and vile-concluded peace.
And why rail I on this commodity?
But for because he hath not woo'd me yet;
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand
When his fair angels would salute my palm,
But for my hand, as unattempted yet,
Like a poor beggar raileth on the rich.
Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail
And say there is no sin but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then shall be
To say there is no vice but beggary.
Since kings break faith upon commodity,
Gain, be my lord, for I will worship thee.

Act II of King John



*St. Alphege
Feastday: April 19
1012


Archbishop and "the First Martyr of Canterbury." He was born in 953 and became a monk in the Deerhurst Monastery in Gloucester, England, asking after a few years to become a hermit. He received permission for this vocation and retired to a small hut near Somerset, England. In 984 Alphege assumed the role of abbot of the abbey of Bath, founded by St. Dunstan and by his own efforts. Many of his disciples from Somerset joined him at Bath. In that same year, Alphege succeeded Ethelwold as bishop of Winchester. He served there for two decades, famed for his care of the poor and for his own austere life. King Aethelred the Unready used his abilities in 994, sending him to mediate with invading Danes. The Danish chieftain Anlaf converted to Christianity as a result of his meetings with Alphege, although he and the other chief, Swein, demanded tribute from the Anglo-Saxons of the region. Anlaf vowed never to lead his troops against Britain again. In 1005 Alphege became the successor to Aleric as the archbishop of Canterbury, receiving the pallium in Rome from Pope John XVIII. He returned to England in time to be captured by the Danes pillaging the southern regions. The Danes besieged Canterbury and took Alphege captive. The ransom for his release was about three thousand pounds and went unpaid. Alphege refused to give the Danes that much, an act which infuriated them. He was hit with an ax and then beaten to death. Revered as a martyr, Alphege's remains were placed in St. Paul's Church in London. The body, moved to Canterbury in 1023, was discovered to be incorrupt in 1105. Relics of St. Alphege are also in Bath, Glastonbury, Ramsey, Reading, Durham, Yorkminster and in Westminster Abbey. His emblem is an ax, and he is depicted in his pontifical vestments or as a shepherd defending his flock.

SEIU and CTU Have Been Murdering School Reform!

Andy Stern's Purple Finger prints are all over Marilyn Stewart's CTU work to murder School Reform in Chicago. Stern and radical activist Mike Klonsky are old hands at this stuff. Work within the system and you really get to blow things up!

From Dist 299 -

SEIU Organizing Charter School Teachers
A couple of posts down, Mike Klonsky highlights the fact that some charter schools in other places -- NYC, LA -- have organized teachers, and that it hasn't always been via the teachers local. (I know that substitutes sometimes end up being organized by nonteacher locals, too.) In LA it was SEIU, for example. What I'm wondering is whether SEIU does any better than CTU would do, what folks think about the idea of charters under union agreements, and...well, mostly those two things.

Here is the concern of a Charter teacher on that same site.

I think one issue is whether SEIU would do any better. As someone in a charter school I have no interest in belonging to CTU (and by law, I actually can't).

Unionizing charters will be hard for a number of reasons. Each charter school would have to have their own contract with their teachers, or suddenly every charter school would have to have the same hours, prep periods, class sizes, school years, etc., and then the point of charters being able to decide these things independent of the school district would be lost.

I think you'll also see a lot of resistance from some of the larger national charter school funders, many of whom aren't the most union friendly groups in the world.

I don't see any need for a union at my school right now, I was given a fair review and a chance to negotiate my own contract, and when it comes down to it, I'd rather be the one at the bargaining table. The only people I know who wouldn't are those teachers who don't deserve a raise anyway.

That being said I'm sure there are other charters where teachers probably aren't treated with the same level of respect, and I'm sure if charters start to unionize, they'll be the first to go. Either way, it will be interesting to watch what happens. It would definitely be a blow to the neo-cons.

Posted by: Charlie | July 26, 2007 at 01:45 PM

Not to Neo-Cons, Charlie. To School Reform. You sound like a professional and that is what education needs.

Real Unions in Danger = Stern's SEIU

Andy Stern and Anna Burger are destroying the American Labor Movement - Labor Leaders who have anything to do with these two career Lefty sneaks help them destroy Labor.

Here in Chicago, CTU lead by the oafish Marilyn Stewart want Charter School teachers to turn their backs on the contracts that each one of them signed in good faith and seek cover in Chicago Teachers Union. School Reform means nothing to CTU. Charter teachers who signed to join CTU are breakers of oaths, they want to be treated as professionals and act like whiny fools. The work loads that they contracted to do - agreed to do, for the pay and position with International Charter Schools are now too much of a burden on them.

Quit.

Join CTU and Chicago Public School System and all that goes with that shameful and corrupt, incompetent, lazy and greedy system. I know many heroically dedicated Public School teachers and they too are ashamed and disgusted by the stupidity and cant of CTU leadership and that comes from it.

SEIU needs an unskilled workforce to add greater numbers to its sad and 'going-nowhere' membership.

SEIU need to bring down the trades as well as the Schools.

Here's one of the Stern Gang writing about his covert work to undermine the Carpenters Union.

Labor’s New Deal – Douglas McCarron’s Raw Deal for the UBCJA
By Chris the Abducted Alien
Rated "G" by the Author.
Last edited: Sunday, April 27, 2008
Posted: Sunday, April 20, 2008



The article written by Andy Stern outlines the history of the beginnings of our labor in America starting with Calvin Coolidge who once famously declared, “The chief business of the American people is business.” Coolidge’s heirs today are corporatists who have succeeded in rolling back many elements of the New Deal and the subsequent reforms that helped create a great American middle class.

Franklin D. Roosevelt understood that in addition to government programs, a balanced economy requires strong labor unions. Then, as now, increased unionization created higher wages and benefits for both union members and unorganized workers. As unionization increased, the middle class grew. And as the percentage of workers represented by a union has declined in the past three decades, the disparity of wealth has increased in the corporate world.

We need to take into account the vast changes that have occurred since the New Deal, and we must continually adjust as new changes take place. America still needs strong unions--as well as a government on the side of working people--as part of the solution to rebalance power, provide greater fairness, make work pay and ensure that the dreams of all American children can still come true.1

Let’s fast forward to the present...



The plan by the wealthy leaders in our world, including Bush & Company and the representatives in his current regime, has been to steamroll and eliminate the middle class at warp speed. Let’s see what part the UBCJA under General President Douglas McCarron has had in this plan...


General President McCarron tightened his control of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners at the union’s convention in Las Vegas on August 25, 2005, when delegates voted to give him a third five-year term. The pro-democratic opposition slate, “Restore the Vote” team, did not have a chance...

Since then, he has run our union like it is his personal property. He has given himself dictatorial powers in our Constitution; he has amassed delegates, most of whom are beholden to him for jobs. Just like some of our individual carpenter locals continue to do today to most of our members.
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Note: Articles, sources, and citations are given at the end of my article.
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McCarron basically has been running our carpenters union like a corporation. He even boasts that centralized leadership is more efficient and attractive to employers and would produce more jobs for working carpenters. What he does not tell us is that his plan was to replace us, the professional carpenter with people that the corporate contractor will train to be uneducated and unthinking, just a robot, to service the employer in our trade, kept ignorant to our bargaining agreement, and happy to make less than our current union scale. This person is less likely to give our corporate unions any problems and our Regional Councils can make as many concessions with our bargaining agreements as needed to keep our coffers full at our corporate Regional Councils, thus letting America know we still have strong unions.


The many younger members, and all the new journeyman carpenters who are allowed to buy their union cards when they come along with a newly signed non-union contractor, do not know the carpenters history behind our bargaining agreement and how it came to be. They do not know how the carpenters in the late 1800s and early 1900s fought and died for the rights and wages we have enjoyed up till now...it is the members in all unions that are the ones who make up a good portion of the middle class in America...


I would like to make it very clear right now, that what I am getting ready to talk about does not involve every Regional Council, Executive Officer, or Officer at a local. We have been infiltrated with McCarron representatives at every level. These are men and women who believe and work towards McCarron’s plan and takeover of the UBCJA. Some of our representatives and members are still passionately unaware of the New Global Union plan for our UBCJA by McCarron.


Opposition from union carpenters continues to grow across America for UBCJA General President Douglas McCarron. He has taken the vote away from the rank and file carpenters and given it to himself and transferred that ability to all the Regional Councils left in our UBC. McCarron has even stepped over the border with his bullying in Canada.


Some of the men and women that now run the various Regional Councils across America and Canada are acutely aware of what is really happening but have been placed between a rock and a hard place because of the bullying with threats of losing their jobs and dictatorship policies made by McCarron. But many others are falling in line with the McCarron republican corporate labor union plan.


If we do not stand up and fight, we the rank and file, the working carpenters and our children that come after us are all going to lose...but our union administrators will continue to get their fat salaries and double pensions!


Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and UNITE-HERE are thought of as the reformers of anti-democratic behavior within our various unions. So why did the newly formed federation Change to Win Coalition invite General President McCarron to become part of the seven partner unions?


Andy Stern, who is the president of the SEIU, has always criticized President George W. Bush’s domestic and foreign policies. I wonder how Stern is dealing with McCarron today, knowing that McCarron is Bush’s darling Republican labor leader who gets to ride on Air Force One? McCarron has been meeting with Bush since his election as General President of the UBCJA in 1995...


There is no longer any mention of the UBCJA being part of the Change to Win Coalition in 2008.

The following is a statement by Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win Coalition:

WASHINGTON DC, May 11, 2007 -- “On behalf of the six million members of Change to Win unions and its Leadership Council, we are disappointed that House Democratic leaders joined with the Bush Administration yesterday to announce a trade deal that is more free than fair.

The agreement does not represent the basis for the type of new U.S. trade policy that this nation desperately needs. Despite improvements in labor and environmental standards, workers remain at risk because the proposal fails to address how to protect U.S. jobs or create new ones. It undermines our prevailing wage and Buy America laws. And it hands foreign firms operating here more privileges over U.S. companies. For working America, that is not a deal.

Quick policy fixes won’t help workers achieve the American Dream in the 21st century– they need a whole new trade model equipped to meet the realities of today’s global economy.

Without significant changes, this agreement opens the door for subsequent harmful trade policies that resemble NAFTA/CAFTA – trade deals that have led to the loss of millions of good jobs at home, a surge in undocumented immigration, the soaring trade deficit, declining wages, and a deterioration of labor standards.

Change to Win stands for fair trade that promotes prosperity at home and abroad so that workers can achieve the American Dream in an era of globalization. Fair trade helps create standards that will stimulate development, protect and create new U.S. jobs, and maintain high wage standards around the globe – the Peru/Panama trade agreement falls far short of this.

It’s time for an alternative approach to this current failed model. We call on Congress to get back to work craft meaningful policies in current and future trade negotiations. We need to ensure that workers, not just corporations and CEOs, fairly share in the benefits of today’s global economy.”

Story by Steven Greenhouse on February 21, 2008 -- Change to Win gets behind Obama. In a conference call this morning, four of the coalition’s unions — the Service Employees International Union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Food and Commercial Workers and Unite Here — voted to back Mr. Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination. With their votes, they ensured that unions representing two-thirds of the coalition’s members were backing a candidate, triggering the group’s endorsement.

The three other unions in the coalition — the Laborers, the UBCJA and the United Farm Workers — abstained. The carpenters union had initially endorsed Senator John Edwards, while the farm workers, easily the smallest union in the coalition, have endorsed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.”

The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters had this charade late last year in the Chicago area, actually in Iowa, with the current Presidential primary, and the UBCJA giving $500,000 of our money to an unknown person, Senator John Edwards to run in the primary for President. We had two perfectly good Democratic candidates already running in the primary...why was the UBCJA backing Edwards? Why did our Regional Councils go along with it? Why did none of our members (working carpenters) know about this? And why have we not heard any more about it? McCarron again did this without the permission or vote of the members...


All 50,000 of our members here in the Chicago area received a letter announcing the UBCJA backing John Edwards the same day he, John Edwards, dropped out of the Presidential primary. That was the first time many of the carpenters heard of John Edwards!


Again, carpenters here do not know what our Regional Council was thinking; they are not talking and continue to have meetings in secret and without all members knowing what their plan is. I personally feel this was one of the biggest mistakes our union in Chicago could have done...not allowing the rank and file (working carpenters) in on what has been happening with our Labor union(s). Now, all of the deceit and manipulation that is occurring in the UBC is on our shoulders. Many carpenters here in the Chicago area are continuing to talk about them and are starting to think they are part of McCarron’s Republican plan.


I attended the International Convention in Las Vegas in 2004 and heard Douglas McCarron speak. I have been giving him the benefit of a doubt as to what I heard him say at the convention and have been continually questioning his speech and the statements made by him...was this guy for real? He was talking about opening up diversity to people of color and women in our union so we could help to keep it strong. And then going on to say, also allowing the women who were and are part of this union to organize and now help to work to be part of the century old union. I never thought I would hear something like that from a union guy in my lifetime! It was just too good to be true , I was dumbfounded!


But now, in 2008, my take on this is McCarron is just another carpenter talking out the side of his mouth. “Doublespeak” has been practiced by politicians for decades. It is also now known as the ultimate betrayal by our union administrators who have learned the practice well! In society today nothing has been more widely accepted, used and promoted then the art of “Doublespeak.” McCarron continues to tell the union members what we want to hear, so he and his administration can complete the republican plan. He has been trained to complete this plan well from Bush and Company...as to what has to be done with middle class Americans in order for the Unions to survive in America...


We have seen no labor unity between UBCJA and the other Change to Win Coalition and AFL-CIO affiliate unions in the current race for the presidential primary. All the other unions are either backing Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. This tells me we have a few defectors to democracy in our unions, and one of them is our UBCJA...


The working carpenters here in the Chicago Regional Area are getting ready to get into serious difficulties with concessions being given to contractors with our Bargaining Agreements for several of the counties that are coming up this year 2008. The “Raw Deal” is already happening across America in the Carpenters and other unions. I predict concessions will be given to the employer’s big time this contract year...all in the name of our failing ECONOMY precipitated and planned by Bush and company and advantageously completed by McCarron in the carpenters union and by others in the other unions...


Here is an overview of what is happening in our Carpenters unions and our agreements across America and Canada:


First, millions of Americans are starting to become aware of what the Republicans have been planning over the past two decades. This is to eliminate the middle class by busting the unions to destroy our economy, our education system, and turn all of us against each other over hate for one reason or another, and now by allowing the immigrants to take over jobs in the United States for less pay.


McCarron’s plan has been no different; it has become the Corporate UBCJA. Get the undocumented workers who are mostly already uneducated, who know nothing about our bargaining agreements or our laws and are willing to work for less money than union scale carpenters are making under our current agreements. The immigrant’s loyalty is to the Regional Council and the puppets that run some of the locals. Some of our Regional Councils and locals are assisting the illegal immigrants to get Department of Homeland Security working cards in the United States, even though they are still not registered as legal residents in the United States. And there has been very little talk about the immigrants being dual citizens of both the United States and the other countries (where they were born).


McCarron and his kingdom of Regional Councils have been pandering to the contractors union and non-union (big business) and destroying our current bargaining agreements within our union across America and Canada. The Brotherhood of Carpenters is going to “hell in a hand basket,” and they are selling the rank and file working carpenters down the river...

November 7, 2005 – “UBCJA President McCarron in Washington DC is threatening American-style bully tactics to conduct a hostile takeover of the autonomous BC Carpenters Union.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) sent a letter last Friday to the BC Provincial Council of Carpenters elected President, Len Embree, threatening to impose immediate "supervision" over the independent BC Carpenters Union, its 7000 members, and their union's assets.”

This story by EDMONTON/630 CHED, September 20, 2007 - - The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and the Alberta Building Trades Council have taken out ads warning carpenters they could face criminal charges or civil action if they don't return to work.

Headline News: “Threats of criminal charges for striking workers in Alberta, Canada. Federation Labor laws are being fought by over thousands working carpenters at a rally in Alberta, Canada. The Alberta Labor Code is dead!

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has dealt a fatal blow to these oppressive Labor Laws and the future for Canadians in Alberta is beginning to have promise.

Saturday, September 22, 2007 the funeral for the Alberta Labor Code will be held at the Alberta Labor Relations Board - 10808 - 99 Avenue at 12 noon and a Funeral parade will head to the Alberta Legislative building where the Alberta Labor Code will be put to rest.

For two days, beginning September 6, Alberta carpenters rallied in front of the Alberta Labor Relations Board to affirm their right to take collective action to defend their interests. On Thursday, September 6 more than 200 carpenters rallied outside the Alberta Labor Relations Board (ALRB) in downtown Edmonton where yet another employer complaint was being heard. On Friday, their numbers grew to more than 600 and the carpenters were joined by members of other unions. They filled the room where the hearings were taking place and closed the entire street in front of the ARLB offices.”


Corruption continues to run rampant in the Chicago and across America and Canada. From what I remember on the history of labor I read...it was the Canadians that started the rank and file working carpenters labor movement. Peter J. McGuire’s movement in 1881 started for the carpenters here in the United States after the Canadians fought and won for their rights in Canada. McGuire’s plan was taken from the Canadians...


Sheet rockers in Baltimore and Vancouver got the raw end of the deal along with Southern California style drywall piece rates in union contracts. The Southern California Nevada Regional Council of Carpenters continue making concessions to the contractors, it has become a way of life out there. It does not seem to bother the Business Representatives that concessions are “okay” and that the fact is the UBC gave up piece work 120 years ago...this drywall clause was clearly a travesty of justice under our current union contracts.


Clearly three-fourths of the members are currently deprived of the right to vote through the manipulation of our locals to keep members away from meetings. And the apathy and lack of education to our bargaining agreements by our members to get involved has not helped. It clearly places a minority in control of our unions.


The piece work clause is still in our By-Laws and Working Rules currently here in the Chicago area...but Immigrant drywaller’s are allowed to get their money by piece work right now. And again, some of our union business agents and organizers look the other way. Similar issues arise with the siders, roofers, and insulators. When carpenters are asked to bring a manual or power tool on the employer’s jobsites and our union allows it. Our union here even allows the transportation of the employer’s tools in the carpenter’s vehicles, and again the business agents and organizers look the other way.


New York also has many concessionary agreements of its own that are now part of its bargaining agreement. Fred Devine, the former administration President for the New York District Council of Carpenters and now convicted felon, started the ball rolling in 1993.


In the 1993 agreements with the associations, Devine gave up double time for overtime, and now all carpenters will only get time and a half for work after seven hours, except on Sundays and legal holidays. The District Council (now called Regional Councils) also agreed to allow contractors to use only apprentices for the unloading and distribution of carpenter materials on jobsites, turning the apprentices into cheap delivery labor and denying journeymen opportunities for overtime.

This story by Gregory A. Butler, carpenter in New York:

“Union carpenters in New York City in 1999 are at a crossroads. For the first time since 1915, we have a District Council leadership that does not have ties to La Costa Nostra, but we are actually worse off than we were under the wise guys.

There is a building boom, and only 1,300 or so brothers and sisters on the list out of 20,000, but there are also about 20,000 non-union brothers and sisters out there in our trade.

Not only are the non represented carpenters doing virtually all the new houses in Staten Island, and all the apartment renovations in Harlem, the South Bronx, South Jamaica, Bedford Stuyvessant and East New York, but much of the storefront work in the Financial District, Midtown, the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side and even high-rises on W 40th Street and that big MTA command center on 54th Street. And, even the sidewalk bridges around a lot of sites are non union, and we owned that work just 4 years ago.

In New York, McCarron’s organizers have been attempting to set up multiple scales, to attract the rat contractors. With the scaffold contractors, Rockledge and Colgate, who used to be union until former District Council President Fred Devine gave them a contract that exempted them from 50/50 hiring from the hall, enabling them to go 100% non union, McCarron's organizers, is rewarding them for going scab.”

Our unions continue to hire people off the street, even though the indentured apprentices and journeyman continue to be without jobs. Unions pay people living in the street and wives or girlfriends of carpenters to walk pickets, instead of asking for volunteers from the carpenters out of work. This brings up another matter...our carpenter trade union in the Chicago jurisdiction still will not appoint woman carpenters as organizers, but continue to allow the wives and girlfriends of carpenters to walk the pickets and pay them. This has been going on forever...now if that is not discrimination I do not know what is?


The council will close down the permit office every once in a while to pacify the other out of work carpenters, but the process continues. This concession was to allow contractors to hire diversity, but it has given these contractors the ability to pay less than scale to these people hired off the street. They know only what their union employer is telling them, they are being manipulated and lied too about what they should receive as union scale and benefits. These people are mostly people of color, women and easily manipulated uneducated white men. Our union does support discrimination by our union contractors. Because the business agents and organizers are to busy getting more jobs for us to work on, but does not have the time to support our rank and file members unless it benefits their plan.


At this point, I also have to include the apprenticeship programs...I am sure this occurs at many of the apprenticeship schools across union America. Bring the new people in by the thousands and let them run wild with no support from our Trustees or our Apprenticeship Administration. If it were not for the marvelous Instructors that work at the schools, the apprentices would get no support at all. This is of course unless they are favorites or in a union family. Fairness is not practiced here either…


Most of the new apprentices are left to fend for themselves. If our apprentice coordinators can find them leads on jobs, and if they can find a union contractor to hire a person of color or a woman, then they might work for a few months. More money goes into our coffers...and that is more money for the Executive and local administrators to provide salary increases and to make their wages secure and some of their double pensions fatter...and unions get stronger.


Some of the people in my union have been stonewalling my efforts to develop an evening class to educate all union carpenters to our Area Agreements, our UBCJA Constitution, and our union member rights for over ten years. Instead they make a video and leave it up to the individual member to watch and understand. Most of the members do not even watch it. Good job guys, keep the plan rolling along...keep doing it your way!


The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentice & Training Program has a Labor Management Relations class for first year apprentices. None of the other Instructor’s were ever trained to teach this class…I had to educate myself about the bargaining agreements, By-Laws & Working Rules, and our UBCJA Constitution so I felt comfortable teaching it to the apprentices. Some of the business agents, stewards on job sites, and organizers are still clueless to our area agreements or UBC Constitution.


The comments I have received from the working apprentices in the field are horror stories about what the union contractors are making them do in violation of our contracts…this has been occurring for the past fifteen years and is continuing to get worse. Our business agents and the hundreds of male organizers we pay continue to look the other way.


We are currently bringing in 3000 to 4000 apprentices for training in our program every year, but only 700 to 800 graduate...what does it matter; right? Most of them did work for an hour or more, or maybe a year or two before they disappeared. Our coffers are getting fatter because of these people...


Story from a sister Carpenter in another state:

“We have a local here that I say is about 70% African American. It happens to be a local that is paid a lesser rate because it is a housing local not commercial. Almost ALL of the women and men of color that come in through the pre-apprentice programs are assigned to that local. They don't get the same elective of being assigned to the local in their area like most of the white apprentices. The leadership of that local is 100% white. Go figure. This, in one the largest unionized cities on the east coast. Most members are just glad to be working.”


TEAMSTERS (IBT) - Chicago Local in Turmoil over Officer Elections

“Dissident members of a Chicago Teamsters union have charged the hierarchy with subverting the victory of their candidate for president in elections conducted Oct. 17, amid allegations of corruption linked with mob influence, kick-backs, and underhanded job-shifting schemes against the current hierarchy, led by Robert Walston. Local 743 represents more than 12,000 health care, manufacturing, insurance and university workers in the Chicago area.


An opposition slate led by Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU) activist Richard Berg was ahead in the ballot count 788 to 781. About 200 ballots -- most from a shop that supported Berg -- remained to be counted when those votes were challenged. Local 743 bosses initially said that they would recognize the votes that had been challenged, but after checking the current tally changed their minds and decided to hold a new election entirely.


Local 743 attorney Bill Widmer said Berg himself asked for the election to be voided because voters had supposedly been disenfranchised. But Berg said the union dismissed numerous other protests he had filed, and than decided to grant one and ordered a new election when his win looked likely.” [Chicago Maroon, 10/28/04: Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/22/04]


Story by two sister Teamsters from the Chicago area:

“We are in a local on the southern area of Chicago that consists of all women, only the two of us are citizens of the U.S. All the other women are Hispanic and have U.S. Department of Homeland Security working cards. But they are not residents of the U.S. All of the officers in our local are white men who put fear into the women when we have anything to say about our employers not giving us our contracted scale or working more than eight hours and still getting paid the same as an eight hour day. The officers will not give us information as to our bargaining agreement and continue to threaten us with our jobs if we do not shut-up.”


Our Chicago area administration signed an agreement with what is called, Furniture Contractors. The concessions given to this type of contractor allows them to hire twenty apprentices to one journeyman carpenter on every one of their union jobs. Business agents have been placing mostly people of color and women with these contractors. These apprentices have no possibility of becoming journeyman carpenters. These type of contractors do not train people in the carpentry skills needed to gain journeyman status...so, near the end of their four year apprenticeship they only have two options left...start the apprentice program all over again or quit the carpenters union for another type of job.


You see, if they start all over again, they will continue to put money into our corporate Regional Councils coffers for all vested carpenters in our unions and they will again have a steady job for another almost four years at the apprentice rate. Good deal huh?


Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters administration gave up overtime on Saturdays for Residential Carpenters in our area...they raised the union dues fifteen dollars more for first and second year apprentices because they know most will not be in our union after the second year. Journeymen only received a three dollar increase...

In various other unions across America, and in some instances here in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa immigrant workers, people of color, and women are being placed into separate locals to allow the men that run that local to control and manipulate them. These people are not given their By-Laws and Constitution booklets, nor are the officers at those locals educating them to their rights under our bargaining agreement. In some of the more depressed areas of our three state county regions, locals are bullying their members and manipulating them into believing that they will not be able to get a job or ever work as a carpenter again. And again, these are mostly people of color, women or uneducated white men. People of color and women are constantly intimidated into not participating at their local meetings. Some of the apprentices that want to speak up at a meeting are still told to “shut your fucking month and sit down,” when it is a concern that the officers do not want to address. They also allow their members to bully the new members coming in, especially if that new member is a woman.


The immigrants only have employment cards from the Department of Homeland Security to work in the United States, and these people are constantly fearful of doing anything that could have them deported back to their countries. So they work for their union employers, accepting anything given to them. The Regional councils and the business agents again look the other way...


Any time a person of color or a female carpenter fights for their rights under our union contract they are blackballed and not able to work for that contractor again...


In September 2004, Sun-Times columnist Carol Marin reported that Andy Ryan, 19, son of Tom Ryan, Business Representative/Secretary Treasurer out of Carpenter Local 13, was hired as a building inspector even though the city requires all inspectors to have completed a four-year apprenticeship and have two years work experience. The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters was Mayor Daley’s largest campaign contributor in 2003. After more investigation it was found that another son of a Business Representative was also hired by the Chicago Building Department a year prior. Carpenter Local 13 was credited with being one of the prominent locals to negotiate a bargaining agreement with the City of Chicago, Building Inspection Department a year earlier...


I did not see young Ryan or any of his brothers in the Apprenticeship school until after the corruption charges were filed with the Chicago Building Department…then several of the brothers started in the apprenticeship. I heard one has since been appointed as a Business Representative in our CRCC union.


We have Executive Business Agent/Directors in charge of certain committees in our area; one is the called Mentorship Committee in which the President of a Carpenters Local and also an Executive Business Representative is in charge and has the title of Mentorship Director. There has not been a mentorship committee in this or other locals since the Las Vegas Convention in 2004. Yet I was told that it existed before 2004. It’s a big joke to this guy...if there is or was a mentorship committee in any carpenter local, it was because of the men and women carpenters in those locals made it happen, not because of this so-called Business Representative/Mentorship Director. Word is he received this position because it was the worse committee to be on, and they had to put him somewhere...


What our Unions have done over the past decade is to pander to the Corporations leaving the working carpenters to fend for themselves. As long as the union Corporations pay into the benefits fund, our unions will continue to be a strong hold in America, but this time at the cost to the uneducated workers, the immigrant workers or the uncaring and ignorant uneducated indentured apprentices and journeymen that continue to look the other way...


The same concessions have been happening here in the jurisdictional counties in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa and it is getting worse...and the excuse we, the working carpenters will be given is we are in a recession, and there is nothing that the Regional Council can do...


This same plan has been in effect in other unions across America and Canada as well. Part of the plan is to lower the wages of all union carpenters. The Corporate UBC and the Regional Councils however will continue to get there money to keep the union strong because the corporate contractors continue to pay into the benefits at higher amounts, possibly with the promise of better health care for union workers. Even though wages will be down and immigrants are always willing to work hard and receive lower wages. History repeats itself again...


UBCJA General President Douglas McCarron has been part of the RAT BRIGADE (Corporate Contractors) all along!


McCarron has been in on this plan since his first election in 1995 and started negotiations in 2000 with Bush and the Republican Party, his administrations goals have been to continue making the unions strong at the expense of the working carpenters and undocumented immigrant workers. These unions were once run by the working carpenters, now it is a Labor Union Corporation and the UBC and the Regional Councils have taken control. The union workers' rights under our agreements have been violated continuously over the past decade, and no one in our administration has been supporting the union workers rights. The Equal Rights amendment and all of the other laws are not enforced. It is like they have been put in place by our government and our unions but were written with disappearing ink...they are no more, nor have they really been!


The only right that our unions have been supporting with their millions of dollars a year attorney firms, which we pay for, is for the corporate labor unions, their administrations and contractor corporations’ rights.


We no longer have a voice or vote in our unions, and pretty soon we will no longer have a voice or vote in America! Corruption, deceit, and manipulation are alive and well in our unions…

“We, as carpenters, both union and non-union, have to build a new type of unionism. Our goal is and has always been for a better life and a higher standard of living for EVERY carpenter, White, Black, Latino, Polish, Asian, man or woman. We should not be on the same side with ANY contractor, rat or union. And, we do not have much use for leaders like Doug McCarron.” – Gregory A. Butler, union carpenter Blog

I second that notion...Wake up people, fight back!

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People really need to educate themselves to what is happening on in our Nation...

READ, THINK...EDUCATE

If you are just a passionately unaware American, please evaluate your thinking as to who is the best candidate to be our leader...the next President of the United States...

SWAY THE OBAMA WAY!

Time for Illinois Labor Leaders - the Real Ones - to get wise and give Andy Stern the tune-up he needs.

Trades Unions! Watch. When CTU Murders Charter Schools, Apprenticeship Programs Will Be Next. SEIU and Andy Stern Want it So!

SEIU wants to Kill School Reform and they have the money and muscle to do it. Killing School Reform, which actually means the advent and genuine success of Charter Schools in America, is a means of killing the Bureau of Apprenticeship Programs in Illinois and other States in favor of a State run Apprentice Program - run by a local politician like James Meeks, as Emil Jones will be at an undisclosed off-shore paradise.

Card check will be the key and Teachers Unions are already thugging it up.

appeasement on vouchers only whets unions appetites for eliminating all meaningful types of choice. With voucher programs facing termination in Washington, D.C., and heavy regulation in Milwaukee, the teachers unions have now set their sights on charter schools. Despite their proclamations about supporting charters, the actions of unions and their allies in state and national politics belie their rhetoric.

In New York, for example, the unions have backed a new budget that effectively cuts $51.5 million from charter-school funding, even as district-school spending can continue to increase thanks to local taxes and stimulus money that the charters lack. New York charters already receive less money per pupil than their district school counterparts; now they will receive even less.

Unions are also seeking to strangle charter schools with red tape. New York already has the "card check" unionization procedure for teachers that replaces secret ballots with public arm-twisting. And the teachers unions appear to have collected enough cards to unionize the teachers at two highly successful charter schools in New York City. If unions force charters to enter into collective bargaining, one can only imagine how those schools will be able to maintain the flexible work rules that allow them to succeed.

Good schools and solid Trades Programs are paths to success. Andy Stern can not and will not have that. SEIU sucks up unskilled and no skilled members, who are not and will not have an opportunity to train and study for a path into the American Middle Class. That was the Old Way - This is Change America, Sweetheart!

In Change America, group think and group wage will be based upon what the Tax-levying bodies in each State ( soviet) dole out to the rank and file.

Andy Stern wants an end to all Trades Apprenticeship Programs - no longer will the Pipefitters, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Sprinkler-fitters, of Engineers set standards for application to Apprenticeship Programs, nor will they run training schools.

SEIU will determine who does and gets what through each State's James Meeks, or some other Purple Approved Legislator.

Play ball with Andy Stern and you will get a knife in kidneys for your troubles.

SEIU is ACORN with an Advanced Degree ( Social Work @ University of Pennsylvania usually) and they need millions more members to feed the PAC. There are many more spineless politicians to buffalo and millions more children that Andy Stern needs for future harvests of no skill and unskilled members. That harvest is threatened by School Choice - Catholic Schools, Private Schools and especially Charter Schools.

Progress Illinois Andy Stern's graphic novel ( comic book)of propaganda is going flat out to help the oafish Marilyn Stewart's Chicago Teachers Union geld Charter Schools.

The Wall Street journal offers this roadmap:

When charter schools unionize, they become identical to traditional public schools in performance. Unions may say they support charter schools, but they only support charters after they have stripped them of everything that makes charters different from district schools.

President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have given speeches promoting charter schools. Despite their talk, charter spending constituted less than one-quarter of 1% of education spending in the stimulus package. And the Obama administration has done union bidding by killing the D.C. voucher program. They did this in the face of solid evidence of academic progress for the voucher students, and despite their stated commitment to do "what works for kids" regardless of ideology.

Vouchers made the world safe for charters by drawing union fire. But now that the unions have the voucher threat under control, charters are in trouble. It's time for reformers to increase pressure on politicians bending to the will of the unions and close the new education gap -- the one between what Mr. Obama and Mr. Duncan say about education and what they do.

Killing School Reform through unionizing Charter Schools is a step to killing Trades Programs. Kill competency and grow fat on millions of locked-in, impoverished and no skill members is the goal of Andy Stern, SEIU, Card Check,and Chicago Teachers Union.

CTU Hellbent on Destroying School Reform - Progressives Help Them!

Progress Illinois is a comic book published by Andy Stern's SEIU -the folks who worked over-time with Rod Blagojevich to replace Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate after working hand in pocket with Rod Blagojevich for the good part of his two years in office.

SEIU had a starring role in the December 9th Criminal Complaint against Celebrity Survivor Ingenue the disgraced former Governor of Illinois. SEIU is Lefty PAC masquerading as a Labor Union. Members dues go to frightening spineless elected officials and papering the lampposts of Blagoshere with hit pieces on political enemies ( William Daley, Mayor Daley, Mike Madigan, John Shimkus, Mark Kirk, Tom Cross and Jim Durkin) with Progress Illinois staffed by the kids of Old Radicals and Leftists like Angela Caputo who takes another salary of Sun Times News Group - for now.

Progressive and the tax-salaried American Federation of Teachers and their Banana Republic branch -Chicago Teachers Union want to kill school Reform.

Vouchers and Charter Schools are the only hope for the already hopeless Chicago Public Schools.

Catholic Schools outperform Public Schools and save Illinois tax-payers millions of dollars.

Angela Caputo is tasked with doing hit pieces on Charter International and its Educational Management Organization (EMO) Civitas.

Read the 'All Hail the Working class' rhetoric in Ms. Caputo's giggle piece - funny like cancer.

Click my post title for the full nonsense.

Here is the most idiotic paragraph.

Because the staff (and public) is largely kept in the dark about the administration of charter schools, it's hard to know how CICS' books have changed in recent years. What's clear is that the instability at these particular schools had led to an increased rate of teacher turnover, a concern raised by Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE) in a report (PDF) last fall.

Shall we, Chicago taxpayers, demand an open accounting of Marilyn Stewart's Chicago Teachers Union?

The great Labor Force that spent the better part of a year firing and locking a Union Leader -Ted Dallas - out of the Headquarters?

Oh, Let's do !

Start here -

Cashing out sick days is a common practice at the Union, he says, but he says he is charged with doing it “without approval.” He says that because Stewart does not study Union policy and past practice, other staffers have been able to cash out sick days after discussions at meetings, and that the policy of going through the Executive Board has not been followed because Marilyn does not follow rules.


Those amounts contested for Dallas are peanuts, when compared to many of the expenditures by Stewart, Dallas noted. For example, he cited the $850,000 laid out at the May House meeting by John Feldman, American Federation of Teachers CPA, as spent by the Stewart administration in a policy which allowed the officers and staff to cash out “compensatory days” for extra work on weekends during 2006. Feldman said that this plan was to be revenue neutral, but that now the officers know it to have been a mistake.


Dallas says he is also charged with helping Presidential Aide Diana Sheffer cash out her sick days at $63,543.80 when it became evident that President Stewart was on a vendetta to fire all those who disagreed with her policies. Sheffer was fired in December 2007, with security walking her out of the Union offices.


The Dallas “trial” will be conducted by the Union Executive Board — dominated by Stewart loyalists — on June 12th at the Union offices at 4 p.m. Dallas’ supporters are encouraging Union members to attend.


The case against Treasurer Linda Porter is still in limbo. In December, 2007, President Stewart took away all of Porter’s fiduciary responsibilities as Treasurer and gave them to her new Chief of Staff, John Ostenburg. Ostenburg was formerly the editor of the union newspaper. He has never taught in Chicago’s public schools. He is the mayor of Park Forest and a former members of the House of Representatives in Springfield. Ostenburg was one of those Stewart did not fire in August 2004. The first page of the 112-page complaint against CTU vice president Ted Dallas. The complaint was brought to the union's executive board by two union members who should not have had access to all of the internal union financial data that they used against Dallas.

http://www.substancenews.net/articles.php?page=78

Todd Stoger - I'm Feeling You, Cousin!

Jesus, I feel for Todd Stroger. I am a cousin, too. ( much to the chagrin of many of my hundreds of Chicago cousins and even a few, I am sure, back in County Kerry) However, I would be the cousin resigning - no doubt. Thank the Good Lord Cousins, that I still manage to eke out a living away from the family trades - carpenters, plumbers,electricians and engineers. Likewise, I have managed to avoid Public Service in the employ of City, County, State and Federal programs. Remember that flood in the early years of Mayor Daley's reign? That would have been my doing.

America was built on Family and Family Obligations. My own paternal family came to this country as teenagers - Left County Kerry, Ireland after the families - Sullivan and Hickey - threw an American Wake*. A little girl, Nora Sullivan, age 13 was treated to a party by the family and neighbors in Cahirciveen** and Larry Hickey, age 14, the same on Crinna Mountain, Castleisland***. They would most likely never go home again. My grandfather returned but my grandmother had 'no desire to return whatsoever!'

They met in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood at a Ceili ( an Irish Dance)fell in love and started a family. They brought their young brothers and sisters to America with pennies they saved from cooking for the rich Yanks and working in the Stockyards.

Cousins were taken care of as well. Anyone from miles around their home towns in Kerry were helped to secure work here in Chicago. Strikes and Depressions and hardships were met head-on and better life was formed here in Chicago and more cousins arrived.

I have been taken care of by uncles and aunts and cousins. Many times much to their disappointment -'That nephew of yours in useless!' One of the most important admonitions learned was 'Don't Kill the Job! Your uncle Dan went to bat for you - it is his word that you are working.'

I became a teacher because I liked to read. Teaching made me less of a burden on a family of highly skilled tradesmen with singularly dedicated work ethics. However, I fully understand the familial nature of helping out cousin. As my particular talents and shortcomings do not lend themselves to helping secure work, I am rarely - if ever - asked to 'go to bat' for a cousin.

Todd Stroger placed a cousin on the job. He stuck his neck out for a family member. The Holier Than Everyone Crowd ( Academic Affirmative Action Time-Servers, News Hound Free-Buffet Investigative Journalist -'Where's My V.I.P Passes to the Taste?' and your Boiled Beet Progressives) will heap scorn on Todd Stroger.

I feel for the guy. The bright spot, Mr. Stroger, is that I am not your cousin - you would really be in the jackpot!

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's cousin has quit her job as the county's chief financial officer amid questions about her relationship with a fired county employee.

Stroger told the Chicago Tribune on Friday he asked Donna Dunnings for her resignation and Dunnings agreed.

Stroger spokesman Sean Howard says the resignation follows Stroger's firing of the patronage worker after learning he had a felony criminal conviction. Howard says that after the man was told he was fired he made "explosive" allegations against Dunnings.

Stroger won't detail the allegations or provide information about the relationship between the man and Dunnings. But he says Dunnings has bailed the man out of jail a number of times. Dunnings has an unlisted telephone number and couldn't be reached for comment.
Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com

*American Wake

Open up the door, she's standin' there
With the smile in her eyes but the gray in her hair
Betrays the fact you strayed far from home
With your drinkin', your smokin', your whorin' around
Sit down by the fire, put your feet on the grate
Spend the night reminiscin' 'til the hour grows late
Always remember at the end of the day
You can always go home - you just can't stay

Then it's off to the pub for to see your old mates
Ah, they all look older, but nothin' has changed
And you drink 'til you're nearly out of your head
"Hey, what are yez all doin' snakin' off to bed"
Then you're outside her flat but she's no longer there
And the tears scald your eyes as you think of her hair
In the photo they sent you of her wedding day
You can always go home - you just can't stay

Then you see her at Mass with the kids at her side
And it all comes back in the blink of an eye
The tears and the laughter, the love and the lies
And that dress she wore the night you said good-bye
Then her husband says "it's good to have you back"
And she smiles for a moment and squeezes your hand
But you know what she's thinkin', she doesn't have to say
You can always go home - you just can't stay

And you swear to yourself time and time again
It was all in the past, she don't mean anything
Now your life is full of laughter and bars
What did you leave behind, just the sun, the moon and the stars

Then it's up in the mornin' at the crack of dawn
With your stomach churnin', she says "c'mon now, Sean,
You'll be late for the plane," but that crack in her voice
Betrays the fact that you made your choice
A long time ago, now there's no turnin' back
'Cause last night you had your American Wake
And the bells are still ringin', can't you hear what they say
You can always go home - you just can't stay

Say good-bye in the wind and the pourin' rain
One last drink at Shannon Airport, then we're outa here,
History around here, catch you again next year
Landin' at Kennedy, all you feel is the pain,
But it's too late, 'cause last night you had your American Wake.
This page has been viewed 1094 times
© Larry Kirwan

http://www.celtic-lyrics.com/forum/index.php?autocom=tclc&code=lyrics&id=21


**http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahersiveen

***http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castleisland

French President Sarkozy Is Wise to President Obama - The American Media LapDogs follow Bo!

The Doc Looks into America's Gutless Media!



A Chicago Reader responds to an Article in The Times U.K. in which French President Nick Sarkozy gives President Obama the scrutiny that he deserves.

I find it strange to have to admit the President of France understands more about the Obama than the American media and half the public. It's down right embarrassing. But then this whole administration is down right embarrassing.

Yukiko, Chicago, USA

Here is a clip from the article - Read the whole piece by clicking my Post title:

Mr Sarkozy is pouring cold water on President Obama's efforts to recast American leadership on the world stage, depicting them as unoriginal, unsubstantial and overrated. Behind leaks and briefings from the Elysée Palace lies Mr Sarkozy's irritation at the rock-star welcome that Europe gave Mr Obama on his European tour earlier this month.

The American President's call "to free the world of the menace of a nuclear nightmare" was hot air, Mr Sarkozy's diplomatic staff told him in a report. "It was rhetoric – not a speech on American security policy but an export model aimed at improving the image of the United States," they said. Most of Mr Obama's proposals had already been made by the Bush administration and Washington was dragging its feet on disarmament and treaties against nuclear proliferation, the leaked report said.

That's only the warm-up - check out Nick's Fastball!

Congressman Mike Quigley Wows Washington D.C. Quigley Plans to Sleep It Off In D.C. Office!

Rep. Barney Franks and his significant other were awakened at 3:00 am by a loud pounding on the door.

Chairman Franks gets up and goes to the door where a drunken diminutive stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push.

'Not a chance,' says the husband, 'it is 3:00 in the morning!'
He slams the door and returns to bed.

'Who was that?' asked Barney's Life-Partner.

'Just some drunk little guy asking for a push,' he answers.

'Did you help him?' asks the Cohabitant.

'No, I did not, it is 3:00 in the morning and it is ppppppouring rain out there!'

'Well, you have a short memory,' says his thoughtful Concubinista.

'Can't you remember about three months ago when we broke down, and those two delightful young sailors helped us? I think you should help him, Barney, and you should be ashamed of yourself!'


The Congressional Puffer Fish does as he is told, gets dressed, and goes out into the pppppppppounding rain. Barney calls out into the dark,

'Hello, are you still there?'

'Yes,' comes back the answer.

'Do you still need a push?' calls out the Banking Committee Genius.

'Yes, please!' comes the reply from the dark.

'Where are you?' asks the husband.

'Over here on the swing, I'm Congressman Mike Quigley!' replied the drunk.

h/t Max Weismann!

Tingle Thigh -Milky Matthews @Chicago Theatre? And Morons Pay Money to See This Twerp?

I thought booking Celebrity Bigot Bill Maher and Ann 'Bones' Coulter was idiotic! This is the most laughable - Chris 'Milky' Matthews the flannel mouth life-long butt-kissing Harp with about as much talent as am albino, bulemic Rosie O'Donnell, is joined Arianna Huffington the Greek serial dater, Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala. Now, that is line-up of excitement unmatched since Puffed Rice hit the shelves.

There are morons who will shell out dough to witness this abortion.


Speaker Series: Chris Matthews + Tucker Carlson, Arianna Huffington, Paul Begala

Despite clearly being a Democrat—he was once a speechwriter for President Carter and ran for Congress on the party ticket—Chris Matthews has built a reputation on Hardball With Chris Matthews as tough but fair. That should position him nicely as the interviewer for this month’s iteration of the Chicago Theatre’s Speaker Series 2009, where he’ll be conversing pointedly with pundit and bowtie enthusiast Tucker Carlson, left-leaning writer and commentator Arianna Huffington, and former Bill Clinton advisor Paul Begala. Don’t expect any lobbing of softballs or mercy shown for his guests—perhaps the best evidence of Matthews’ lack of bias is that both sides accuse him of it: Republicans complain that he expresses a liberal viewpoint and Democrats complain that he books mostly conservative guests.
Chicago Theatre Chicago Theatre175 N State St Chicago IL 60601 312-443-1130
all ages

$38-$150 Bookmark Wed. April 22, 7:30 p.m. Speaker Series: Chris Matthews + Tucker Carlson, Arianna Huffington, Paul Begala at Chicago Theatre Despite clearly being a Democrat—he was once a speechwriter for President Carter and ran for Congress on the party ticket—Chris Matthews has built a reputation on Hardball With Chris Matthews as tough but fair. That should position him nicely as the interviewer for this month’s iteration of the Chicago Theatre’s Speaker Series 2009, where he’ll be conversing pointedly with pundit and bowtie enthusiast Tucker Carlson, left-leaning writer and commentator Arianna Huffington, and former Bill Clinton advisor Paul Begala. Don’t expect any lobbing of softballs or mercy shown for his guests—perhaps the best evidence of Matthews’ lack of bias is that both sides accuse him of it: Republicans complain that he expresses a liberal viewpoint and Democrats complain that he books mostly conservative guests.Wed. April 22, 7:30 p.m. Chicago Theatre 175 N State St, Chicago, IL We get something wrong?
corrections@chicago.decider.com

Napolitano is a Disgrace - Resign.

Janet Napolitano is a disgrace. resign.

After twisting the Department of Homeland Security into a Homeland State Police and insulting America's Veterans, Napolitano offered a smirk and an off-hand attempt to brush off her remarks and then added a confirmation of her mission to curb American Civil Rights.


"Let me be very clear: We monitor the risks of violent extremism taking root here in the United States," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a written statement.

"We don't have the luxury of focusing our efforts on one group; we must protect the country from terrorism whether foreign or homegrown and regardless of the ideology that motivates its violence."


Resign, you hack!

Marone! Paulie Walnuts Napolitano - Resign!

Janet 'Paulie Walnuts' Napolitano is a hack. A Career Hack. A Great Hack. Resign!

Department of Homeland Security changed its mission from a Department Attacking foreign based terror threats from Islamo-Fascist to a Himmler Geheime Staatspolizei: under the Paulie Walnuts -Skunk Haired - Director Janet Napolitano. The target - American citizens any and all who might, might mind you object to any part of Team Obama's Grand Designs.

Democrats ( like me), Republicans, Independents, you name it are embraced in the sweep of Department of Homeland Security.


Under Rachel Maddow's favorite Obama Aparatchic, Napolitano, serious threats to Homeland Security come from people who criticises the Obama Format - whatever the hell that is today - and they are grouped as physically violent Right Wing Extremists. Thus Article U -

(U) Historical Presidential Election
(U//LES) Rightwing extremists are harnessing this historical election as a recruitment
tool. Many rightwing extremists are antagonistic toward the new presidential
administration and its perceived stance on a range of issues, including immigration and
citizenship, the expansion of social programs to minorities, and restrictions on firearms

Really? Means UGOTS to me! Have not heard that up at Kean Gas since Novemmer when Obama swept this Ward on the south side of Chicago ( sans my Vote to McCain - I am incorrigible). Nope, the boys and girls, Democrats mostly, are less than thrilled with President Obama's 100 Days and have taken to stock-piling Irish Chapstick ( Preparation H) for the powerful thrusting and Yahooing of economic gang-banging.

However Janet 'Paulie Walnuts' Napolitano has determined to shut down violent Speech - like 'Boy, I am not too happy that my Taxes are going up.'


Take a look at the two ( Left Wing Extremists -Who Will Only Cyber Slap America On-Line) and ( Right Wing Extremists - All the Rest of Us Military and Civilians who are nasty and violent) - Janet 'Paulie Walnuts" Napolitano, Folks! Resign Already!

Get This!

(U) Reporting Notice:
(U) DHS encourages recipients of this document to report information concerning suspicious or criminal
activity to DHS and the FBI. The DHS National Operations Center (NOC) can be reached by telephone at
202-282-9685 or by e-mail at NOC.Fusion@dhs.gov. For information affecting the private sector and
critical infrastructure, contact the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), a sub-element of the
NOC. The NICC can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9201 or by e-mail at NICC@dhs.gov. The FBI
regional phone numbers can be found online at http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm. When available,
each report submitted should include the date, time, location, type of activity, number of people and type of
equipment used for the activity, the name of the submitting company or organization, and a designated
point of contact.
(U) For comments or questions related to the content or dissemination of this document, please contact the
DHS/I&A Production Branch at IA.PM@hq.dhs.gov, IA.PM@dhs.sgov.gov, or IA.PM@dhs.ic.gov.

(U) Tracked by: CRIM-040300-01-05, CRIM-040400-01-05, TERR-010000-01-05
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo! You know that other party, who said he saw something, that we know did not happen? He realizes now, he didn't see what we know did not happen..." Janet 'Paulie Walnuts' Napolitano





http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/pdf/pdfs/498.pdf

http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/pdf/pdfs/497.pdf

Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano Must Resign Following the Insult to American Military

Janet Napolitano is a hack. She is a disgrace. Napolitano needs to resign.

Napolitano wrote an obscenity that insults the women and men in America's Military.

Here is a very reasoned response from the American Legion.

Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528

April 13, 2009

Dear Secretary Napolitano,

On behalf of the 2.6 million-member American Legion, I am stating my concern about your April 7 report, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence and Recruitment.”
First, I want to assure you that The American Legion has long shared your concern about white supremacist and anti-government groups. In 1923, when the Ku Klux Klan still yielded unspeakable influence in this country, The American Legion passed Resolution 407. It resolved, in part, “…we consider any individual, group of individuals or organizations, which creates, or fosters racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their own hands the enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment, to be un-American, a menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law…”
The best that I can say about your recent report is that it is incomplete. The report states, without any statistical evidence, “The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent attacks.”

The American Legion is well aware and horrified at the pain inflicted during the Oklahoma City bombing, but Timothy McVeigh was only one of more than 42 million veterans who have worn this nation’s uniform during wartime. To continue to use McVeigh as an example of the stereotypical “disgruntled military veteran” is as unfair as using Osama bin Laden as the sole example of Islam.

Your report states that “Rightwing extremists were concerned during the 1990s with the perception that illegal immigrants were taking away American jobs through their willingness to work at significantly lower wages.” Secretary Napolitano, this is more than a perception to those who have lost their job. Would you categorize union members as “Right Wing extremists”?

In spite of this incomplete, and, I fear, politically-biased report, The American Legion and the Department of Homeland Security share many common and crucial interests, such as the Citizen Corps and disaster preparedness. Since you are a graduate of New Mexico Girls State, I trust that you are very familiar with The American Legion. I would be happy to meet with you at a time of mutual convenience to discuss issues such as border security and the war on terrorism. I think it is important for all of us to remember that Americans are not the enemy. The terrorists are.

Sincerely,

David K. Rehbein
National Commander
The American Legion

Napolitano plays agenda politics instead of leading to protect America from threats to its security. A Worldwide network of Islamist terrorist attacked America in 2001.

Napolitano expects a threat from America's military and its veterans.

The Hack needs to go. Now.

Who Are the Protesters At DUI Cop's Home? Full Discloure Please!

The Sun Times jumped at the story fed to them by the protesters who decided to protest a civil matter at the private home of the police detective arrested and charged in the deaths of two people.

The Sun Times wants everyone to know that this a 'silent' protest. Protest against what or whom and about what?


There is bugger all little else than the beef about the cop - he is charged and has posted bail and every reporter in Chicago is climbing up his rump. This we know.

April 14, 2009

Nearly two dozen people held a silent protest Monday night outside the Bridgeport home of police detective Joseph Frugoli, according to WMAQ-Channel 5.

Some protesters said they believed that Frugoli was receiving special treatment because he is Chicago cop.

On Sunday, Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr. set a $500,000 bail for Frugoli, charged with killing two men in a drunken-driving accident. Some of the victims' friends and family members said the bail was too low Sunday -- a complaint echoed by protesters Monday.

Frugoli was freed on bail Sunday afternoon.

Protesters said they plan to return to the Frugoli home.

Earlier Monday, Frugoli refused to comment about his case, according to WMAQ.

How about a little journalism 101!


Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

Who called the Sun Times? G. Flint Taylor? Frank Main? Mark Brown? Eric Zorn? Mumia? The Wilson Brothers?

What is being protested? The suggestion by every nuanced Progressive Voice that the cop is clouted? The bail of $ 500,000 is not enough? The fact that the cop lives in Bridgeport? That he is Italian?

Where did the phone call originate? Peoples Law Office? Loevy, Loevy, Loevy & Lawsuit? The Illinois Young Communists League?

Why was the Protest organized? To get more Outrage? It is such a nice day? The Sox are in Detroit?

How is this news?

Get the packing boxes at the Sun Times ready.

Full disclosure - I think this man who happens to . . .have been a cop is suffering the pains of the damned. It appears that he was responsible for the deaths of two young men. A judge set the bail. The protesters and the Sun Times need to disappear.

Bishop Paprocki Outs the Chicago Tribune's Neo-Know Thing-ism

The Chicago Tribune hides its anti-Catholic agenda with articles and yarns that really 'care' about people - who hate the Catholic Church, whether they claim to be Catholic or not. You never see heart-tugging tales about Planned Parenthood employees sickened by Abortion, or ACORN whistle-blowers who helped catch embezzler Wade Rathke. Progressives and Progressive Wannabees are as genuine as Joan Rivers' beauty secrets.


Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Paprocki outs the Chicago Tribune's Neo Know-Nothing-ism. With a strong and sensible letter that should be on the front page, Bishop Paprocki gives the not so subtle Tribune Editorial Board a much needed bit of schooling.

Anti-Catholic BiasApril 14, 2009
Anti-Catholic Bias

The Chicago Tribune became known for its anti-Catholic bias when it frequently ran xenophobic editorials that criticized foreigners and Roman Catholics as long ago as 1853. Apparently not much has changed, as the Chicago Tribune published an editorial on April 3 attacking Cardinal Francis George as being "deeply out of line" for upholding church teaching, and ran on March 31 an opinion piece by Don Wycliff, a former Tribune editor, urging the University of Notre Dame to "stick to their resolve" in defying Catholic bishops.

The twist in the Tribune's 21st Century approach seems to be to enlist dissenting Catholics to be the mouthpiece of the newspaper's attacks against the church's teaching authority, such as William Daley's column on April 3 asserting that Cardinal George's position on the Notre Dame commencement "continues a worrisome pattern in which the Catholic hierarchy in America is mixing religion with politics."

Similarly, in the front-page story "Faith or family? Some Catholic couples seeking kids struggle with church doctrine" (Page 1, April 5), the Tribune features Catholics who have acted against Catholic Church teaching on in-vitro fertilization.

I don't recall the Chicago Tribune ever running such stories and editorials against any other church or religion, let alone with such frequency or invective, so I can only conclude that the know-nothing views of the Chicago Tribune have not changed.

I am reminded, however, of Jesus' words as he was crucified:

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

—Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, auxiliary bishop of Chicago, Archdiocese of Chicago

Forgive them, to be sure, but try not to forget them - or let them off the hook.

The Final Front Ear! Star Treking, Kid! I'll Give You Three To The Door! I'm Eatin' This Lamb Without a Fazer in My Face!

My brother in law Mike Cleary*, publisher and editor of the Will County Farmers Weekly Review roasted a leg of lamb that was pure gustatory poetry bordering on the pornographic. www.farmersweekly.net

Bone-in, Frenched, five pounds trimmed of fat - this was a leg that could have danced with Fred Astair ( read Joe Epstein's Fred Astair), but served the Hickeys, the Clearys, the Holms, and the delicate and beautiful Miss Terry Sullivan.

Conversation matched the bounty of the festive board! One of my nephew's pals joined us - the young lad happened to be a Trekkie the New Generation! Jesus, I hated that show back in 1966. Never understood the appeal, though countless devotees have tried to balance my TV viewing diet of Simpsons, Have Gun will Travel, Roller Derby ( Darby in the U.K.) and at one time Michelle Leigh's weather broacasts on Fox WFLD 32 with goofball and faux-phisticated plots of Star Trek in all of its manifestations.

Not a chance.

I hated every crew, captain, and configuration of the United Star Ship Enterprise from Kirk to Picard to the Fat Guy I can't recall.

However, Young Phill, an African American Pre-Med student and Francophile, offered to treat me to several bits of Star Trek Humor that got my craggy, masculine mug to bounce up in a smile! 'Mr. Hickey, you hate Star Trek, I hear. Check these out -

Question: How many ears does Picard have?
Answer: Three. A right ear. A left ear. And a final front ear.

Question: What did the blonde Klingon say?
Answer: "It was a good day to dye."

Question: What is Thomas Riker’s dating philosophy?
Answer: "If at first you don’t succeed, try Troi again."

Thomas Riker, that's the fat guy! Near micturated my Munsingwears!


These Phil found on a website for smart kids called Neatorama!

I love this place - this is the minutiae needed by the bright and faux bright scholars of the internet!

Not since the bumptious Sun Times cashiered the worthy Zay Smith have I enjoyed the charms of pointless, yet necessary information. Get Thee There!

Click my post title to neatorama or here


http://www.neatorama.com/* Mikes Leg of Lamb is a version for this one by Chef Mike White - Too Yummy, by Half!



http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/10/earlyshow/living/recipes/main4934084.shtml

6 oil packed anchovy fillets, drained and blotted with paper towels
3 large whole garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
Finely grated zest of 1 orange
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 small bone-in leg of lamb (about 5 pounds without the bone)
1 large yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 large rib celery, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
2 cups dry white wine

Preheat the oven to 475. In a food processor, combine the anchovies, garlic, thyme, rosemary, orange zest and olive oil and process into a smooth paste. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Using a small paring knife, make 1 1/2 inch deep slits all over the lamb. Spread the herb paste all over the lamb, working it into the slits; season the lamb with salt and pepper. Using seven or eight long pieces of kitchen string, tie the roast at 1 inch intervals. Scatter the onion, carrot and celery in the bottom of a roasting pan just large enough to hold the lamb and lay the meat on top. Reduce heat to 375. Roast for 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours until an instant-read thermometer, inserted in the center of the thickest part of the meat, registered 140 degrees to 145 degrees. For medium-rare, cook to 135. Transfer the lamb to a cutting board, tent it loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, set the roasting pan over high heat. Pour in the wine and bring the liquid to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Strain it into a small sauce pan, pressing on the vegetables to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the vegetables. Skim the fat from the surface and boil until the sauce is reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minuets, then pour it into a gravy boat.
Remove the kitchen string from the lamb and cut the meat across the grain into thin slices. Serve at once with the sauce.

Serve with sauted Green Beans almondine.

President Obama -Commander in Chief! Well Done, Sir!

President Barack Obama granted the Pentagon's request for standing authority to use appropriate force to save the life of the captain, Gortney said.

The U.S. Navy 5th Fleet in Bahrain said the rescue took place at 12:19 p.m. EDT (1619 GMT) and the lifeboat had drifted to about 20 miles (32 km) from lawless Somalia's coast.

Phillips, captain of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama container ship, contacted his family after the rescue, received a routine medical evaluation, and was resting comfortably aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer.

USS Bainbridge, the Navy Seals, Joint U.S. Task Force and especially President Barack Obama rescued Capt. Phillips from a hostage ordeal. Well Done, Mr. President!

This is a proud moment for America and a powerfully signal event in your Presidency.

You took a tough call and answered with the authority of an American President.

The Vatican Did Not 'Pick' the U.S. Ambassador - It Refused Obama's Pro-Abortion Pains In the Ass Picks!

The Progressive tends . . . let's see how can I say this without being too edgy or nuanced . . .tends to be a gold-plated pain in the ass. There that will do nicely. The pain in the ass is a person who is not invited to a party, but shows up, without a gift, and expects to be met with back-slaps and huzzahs. When that does not take place, the pain in the ass whines about the treatment he/she receives.

The pain in the ass is the person who offers nothing to any situation other than an entitled sense of ownership.

They do not pay fees, tips, or help but demand royal service. The pain in the ass wants in on everything, offers nothing, contributes nothing and expects some one else to pay his/her way. That is Progressive.

The Progressive (read: pain in the ass) never leaves and never is shamed or insulted. Progressives smile with passive aggressive zombie steadiness and wait until they get what they want. They win by tiring out the patience of good people - sometimes. Here on the south side there is a very low threshold for tolerance of the Great American Pain in the Ass -thanks be to God! This is a very healthy human environment. We will vote for a pain in the ass, but rarely tolerate one.

The Obama Administration. like the Democratic National Committee is loaded with Progressives. They want Abortion to be acceptable and they want Gay-anything acceptable - and embraced and loved by Everyone! Those things (actions/sins/lifestyles) are unacceptable to the Vatican, the Holy See, Pope City. Jesus why not send Andy Dick, or Bill Maher, or Mot The Hoople? Send the cast of Rent.

Caroline Kennedy, a genuine world class pain in the ass, did not get to replace Hillary Clinton and demanded the Ambassadorship to the Vatican. The Kennedy's are Catholic in the DNC sense of being Catholic - when and if it suits them and follows Progressive Doctrine. The last Catholic Kennedy was RFK.

Caroline got nixed by the Vatican and the Media is squeaking. The Media payed big to get Obama elected. Everyone - even the Pope and all his followers must play ball - get Abortive and get Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Trans & etc. friendly!!!! Now! Move On!

Pains in the ass are never patient, nor are they polite. The Obama Progressives will keep sending Pro Abortion Gay Cuddly Catholics for the Post. They want to tire the Pope. I think that they picked the wrong Pope.

Lets remember - America never had an Ambassador at the Vatican until Ronald Reagan.

Formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See were established in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II. The mission works in partnership with the Holy See on global issues including HIV/AIDS, world hunger, religious freedom and human rights. As a global entity, the Holy See is influential on many issues and has far-reaching influence in even the most remote corners of the world. From The Embassy website.

http://vatican.usembassy.gov/embassy/

Nothing about Gay Rights or Abortion in that Mission Statement. Progressives will whine and say 'Ummm' Progressive pains in the ass always begin a pain in the ass objection with 'Ummm' as part of rhetorical question Thus: 'Ummmm AIDS?HIV? those are not Gay Issues?' Hey, Lent's Over . . .never mind.

I do not believe that the United States should have an embassy at the Vatican any more than Chicago Catholic League sports belong being screwed at every opportunity by the Illinois High School Association ( IHSA). Catholic schools were begged by the IHSA to participate back in the 1970's in order to increase attendance at Public School Sporting events. Catholic Schools dominate Illinois athletics and the IHSA changes the rules at every tick of the clock. IHSA is a very Progressive Group! Pains in the Ass!

James Joyner, a very smart young guy writes this -

Now, again, that may be a reason to not send an ambassador. For most of our history, we didn’t. Ronald Reagan was the first to have a formal ambassador. But if we’re going to have diplomatic relations with a church, it only makes sense not to go out of our way to offend it.

The problem with Kmiec and Kennedy, as I understand it, is not so much that they’re pro-abortion but rather that they’re pro-abortion Roman Catholics. Sending them as our ambassador to the Holy See is the equivalent of sending a Soviet defector as ambassador to Moscow during the Cold War or sending an Orthodox Jew as ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Outside the Beltway
James Joyner and I agree. Never tell a Progressive Pain in the Ass where the Party happens to be. The rest of us tend to ring the doorbell with our elbows.

Happy Easter from The Hickeys! A Message from My Priest -Cardinal George!

Pascua feliz

Obchodzić Wielkanoc

Švęsti Velykų

행복한 부활절

Ευτυχές Πάσχα

Fröhliche Ostern

The stone is rolled back; the tomb is empty! Death is defeated; Christ is Risen!

Every year, this miracle gives new life to me. I beat myself up pretty good - listen, I play the St. Peter Betrayal scene seven days a week and a matinee on Sunday - and Easter reminds me that God's Son sacrificed Himself to free me of sin.

This Feast day is our reason to be. Happy Easter! Joyous Passover - remember we dovetail with Passover. I love Passover! To Joe Epstein, Reuben Vernof, Ron Gidwitz, Bob Rosenthal, Bert Odelson,Hackey Reitman, Gary Saul Morson, Si Blitzstein, Jeff Tessler, Bunny Cohen, the late great Danny Levi Mosel Tov! Passover that Leg of Lamb. Just kidding. No I'm not. I respect the sanctity of that night, but I do love roasted Lamb!

Here is what Easter is all about from my favorite priest in this Archdiocese - Francis Cardinal George:

Easter Sunday

Christ’s resurrection brings him and promises us new life. Not just eternal life, although that’s part of it, but genuinely new life. Change is hard, as so many people tell me and as I know myself. Left to our own devices, we’d probably just settle for an improved version of our present life. But risen life, life lived in radical freedom and perfect unity with God, comes when death is suffered and conquered, which is the kind of radical change our imaginations can’t handle. Even science fiction is mostly ringing changes on what we know or re-arranging things we can imagine. No wonder Jesus’ closest friends and disciples were surprised.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, in his Spiritual Exercises, draws on an old belief that Jesus first appeared to his mother, Mary, when he rose from the dead. In inviting us to imagine the scene, St. Ignatius leads us to believe she wasn’t surprised. Every mother knows her son, and Mary probably thought: “Isn’t this just what Jesus would do?” As we get to know Jesus more intimately, we come to see that rising from the dead to give us new life is just the thing he would do. It’s called seeing with the eyes of faith.

Jesus Christ gave all of us the chance to dust our selves off and get back in the game! Let's see with the eyes of Faith, like the Man from Holy Name says! Happy Easter!

So, I Said 'Drop Dead Sister, I'm Dating a Swell Dish!' . . .and the Silly Skirt Did -On the Spot!

It's Spy Wednesday, See?

So, I'm out side waiting for the lovely Terry to finish her Alto chores with the Cantate Domino Choir's Tenebrae services at St. John Cantius Catholic Church. This young skirt with doe eyes approaches me on the steps of the Church. A real Peach Cobbler. I ain't looking,see, but I ain't blind.

'Please, Mister, I need help.'

I thumbed the brim of my Optimo grey Stetson up above my thick greying eye brows to take in a full eye-gulp of this Pastry Doll with a red patterned cotton dress clinging to the quality flesh, muscles and bones beneath the rounded cup of her chin holding the reddest lips this side of a transvestite review at the Admiral Theatre.

'Don't we all?'

' Please all I need is a ride to my cousin's apartment on Ogden, my flip flops broke.'

'Where you from, Apple Tart, this is Chicago - The Big Wind - Weather from Alaska, Hawaii.'

'I'm new in town and Tom Skilling said that it would be unseasonably mild.'

'Skilling sold you, Peach Cobbler, like he did to the grand jury when his little brother looted Enron. I'm raising three kids already.'

' Please, Mister!'

I thought hell, it's Holy Week and Tenebrae is longer than a Studs Terkel Tribute on Channel 11.'

The weeping elf gave me the address and we Chevy Malibu's it down Ogden to Race Street.

'Out you go.'

'Please, come up with me? The vestibule has poor lighting.

Agatha Christie she ain't, but she'll do, as the Vestibule had worse lighting than my tired fifty-six year old eyes. The rusty rose paint covering the dry wall that stood in for lathing and plaster was as attractive as a fat bar-fly ex- Mount Carmel Cheerleader topped off with a few litres of warm Carlo Rossi Rose and perfumed by a pack and half of Pall Malls and half a dozen Slim Jims.

'Please, come up - it might not be safe.'

I volunteered for John McCain; nothing scares me anymore and up I went.

We got into the cousin's apartment which was a room and Murphy Bed -down and unmade. The cousin probably celebrated the end of Operation Desert Storm by making up the rack.

'Please hold me I am so alone!' The Gooey Confection with the pan of a fattened up Lara Flynn Boyle leeched onto me.

'Listen, Sister, I don't know your game but the whistle's been blown. Hit the showers.'

'Don't be cruel. You are so much older and nicer than the men who have made me do things . . .make robocalls for Mike Quigley. He's in Congress now'

' Where Quigley belongs - that or a midget basketball team. Sing it Sister, but you are the audience. I'm bouncing.'

'I can Make you happy.'

'I am Happy. See me grinnin'?'

She held up both arms to me. 'Take me or I'll just die! I'll do anything you say.'

'Look, Rhubarb Pie, this particular Hair-pin is stuck deep in another Babe's bonnet. The Real Deal. This schooner don't cruise, see? I'm chained to my Baby's Boardwalk and She's singing in Church and hugging my arm for keeps. Drop Dead.'

I only meant it metaphorically.

The Pretty Pop-Over snapped up off the deck; kicked her quality gams to One Eighty and flattened out in mid air and drooped like a three by five foot -three quarter inch cut of plywood and pancaked on the floor. Dust bunnies danced for what seemed an eternity.

The Fruit Strudel in cotton and busted flip-flops was as stiff as a poker, and more rigid than an Obama Press Conference.

She was deader than Pat Quinn's tax plans. I called the cops. Told them my story. They told me to blow. I Malibu'd back to St. John Cantius. Tenebrae was about a third done. I stood on the steps of the beautiful old Polish Church and listened to blend of angelic voices calling up the sins of this sad planet. Tenebrae - shadows.

That Fruit Pie could flop.


H/t Blather.com great photos!

Pirates and Julius Caesar -Obama is No Caesar - Elmer Fudd, but No Caesar

First, when the pirates demanded a ransom of twenty talents, Caesar burst out laughing. They did not know, he said, who it was that they had captured, and he volunteered to pay fifty. Then, when he had sent his followers to the various cities in order to raise the money and was left with one friend and two servants among these Cilicians, about the most bloodthirsty people in the world, he treated them so highhandedly that, whenever he wanted to sleep, he would send to them and tell them to stop talking.
For thirty-eight days, with the greatest unconcern, he joined in all their games and exercises, just as if he was their leader instead of their prisoner. He also wrote poems and speeches which he read aloud to them, and if they failed to admire his work, he would call them to their faces illiterate savages, and would often laughingly threaten to have them all hanged. They were much taken with this and attributed his freedom of speech to a kind of simplicity in his character or boyish playfulness.

However, the ransom arrived from Miletus and, as soon as he had paid it and been set free, he immediately manned some ships and set sail from the harbor of Miletus against the pirates. He found them still there, lying at anchor off the island, and he captured nearly all of them. He took their property as spoils of war and put the men themselves into the prison at Pergamon. He then went in person to [Marcus] Junius, the governorof Asia, thinking it proper that he, as praetor in charge of the province, should see to the punishment of the prisoners. Junius, however, cast longing eyes at the money, which came to a considerable sum, and kept saying that he needed time to look into the case.

Caesar paid no further attention to him. He went to Pergamon, took the pirates out of prison and crucified the lot of them, just as he had often told them he would do when he was on the island and they imagined that he was joking.
Plutarch - Lives of teh Noble Romans and Greeks

Somali Pirates - Be Barry, Barry Quiet! At Wast!

President Obama is quickly revealing the nature of his character in his First 100 Days - dependant on a Teleprompter, pampered by the Media who worked very hard for his election, distracted by a question from a reporter concerning an act of piracy against America -“Guys, we’re talking about housing right now!"

President Obama is not Thomas Jefferson. He is not Teddy Roosevelt. Is he Calvin 'Silent Cal' Coolidge - no, I think not. President Obama bowed to King Abdullah; he might be L'il Bow Wow. President Obama is Vewy, Vewy Quiet ( make that Barry, Barry Quiet!) on the Somali Pirates and deferred action on North Korean bullies to the United Nations.

President Obama may be Elmer Fudd.

President Obama is no Teddy Roosevelt. The young President Roosevelt, a real Rock Star Cowboy, Police Chief, Medal of Honor hero and Vice President, was outraged that a Greek American businessman had been kidnapped by a Barbary Pirate.


Liz Sidoti presents President Obama's loud silence in Real Clear Politics:

The new commander in chief has been kept abreast of negotiations over the captain's release, but advisers say Obama has delegated the heavy lifting to high-level administration officials and his military commanders.

The president himself has yet to speak publicly about the incident near the Horn of Africa. He brushed off a reporter's question Thursday.

Instead he has let his top surrogates do the talking, although their comments have been brief, perhaps mindful that their words could influence the sensitive negotiations with the hostage-taking pirates.

Click my post title for Liz Sidoti's disturbingly quiet account of President Obama's silence on the capture of the first American Flag Vessel seized by pirates since 1804.

In 1904, Barbary pirate Rasuli kidnapped a Greek American business man in Morroco. Here is how President Teddy Rooselvelt responded.

Ion Perdicaris. He was a rich businessman who somehow managed to get himself kidnapped by a Berber bandit, Rasuli, in Tangier. Rasuli demanded a ransom for Perdicaris’s life. All of this was taking place just prior to the 1904 political party Presidential nomination conventions. Roosevelt was a candidate for the Republican Party nomination to run for President ‘in my own right’. You will recall that he had become President on the death of President McKinley. So this would be the first time that he would be a candidate for that office.

When he heard about the kidnapping the President sent the U.S. fleet to Tangier with instructions concerning the Perdicaris kidnapping and ransom demands. His instructions were in these words: ‘Perdicaris alive, or Rasuli dead!’

Those words were related to the Republican convention delegates. They went wild with enthusiasm for their bold President and candidate! Of course, Roosevelt was nominated for another term of office with overwhelming support from his party convention. On top of that Perdicaris was soon released and returned to the U.S. The daring President had again proven his skills and his bravery. Ironically, when Perdicaris arrived back in the U.S. he was exposed as not even being an American citizen! It didn’t matter by that time, the country was wild for Teddy Roosevelt and he easily won a full four-year term of office.

President Theodore Roosevelt brought excitement, enthusiasm, adventure, daring, swagger and great leadership to his country. Unfortunately, he also brought a chauvinistic, narrow-minded view of his nation's and his own personal interests.

http://www.users.bigpond.com/billmastermind/moments92.htm

President Teddy brought Something - Honor! Pwesident Obama?


"Perdicaris alive or Rasuli dead!" was the slogan when Theodore Roosevelt went after the Barbary bandit and won Perdicaris's freedom and prestige for our Nation.

Eric 'A Nation of Cowards' Holder is talking.

MSNBC and the Media propaganda Ministry is Talking.

The whole world is talking.

President Obama is distractedly quiet. Barry, Barry Quiet.

American Character -Chesty Puller in the Past & L'il Bow-Wow Now

The White House says Obama didn't bow, that he "grasped (Abdullah's) hand with two hands and he's taller than King Abdullah."

Sorry, but a videotape on YouTube doesn't quite back that up. Obama clearly bends his body toward the Arabian monarch, and Obama doesn't grasp both the king's hands until he's standing straight up. As for the he's-taller argument, the 6-foot-1-inch Obama towers over a lot of people, so we'd have seen him bowing during handshakes many times if that were the explanation. Furthermore, the king had his hand extended, so Obama didn't have to reach down an inordinate amount to grab it.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/1520326,CST-EDT-hunt10.article

Good Lord. President Obama is not having much of a 100 Days. He has a no cut contract good for four years, followed by a lifetime worth of explaining at fees that will make Bill Clinton gag with envy.

President Obama is in way over his head. I thought so, when he announced his candidacy some time ago in Springfield, IL and have yet to not see my expectations met.

In an age when any bone head can destroy a corporation and expect an obscene severance package, it should come as no small surprise that our Chief Executive bows to Saudis, dithers on nuclear threats from North Korea and is 'distracted' by Somali Pirates.

President Obama is an icon for what seems to be passing for the American Character.

It is time to do some sit ups, deep knee bends, sit-ups and wind sprints - tear up the health club cards and let the stair masters rust; climb some stairs.

Long-time Leo Alumni Association president, the late Jack Howard, lived according to two credos - Facta Non Verbs ( Deeds Not Words) and Semper Fidelis ( Always Faithful). Jack Howard was a Marine and a Leo Man. Often the two went together.

Jack always ended Leo Alumni meetings with prayers for departed Alumni, but also mentioned Chesty Puller - 'Goodnight, Chesty - wherever you are!

Gen. Puller was an American Icon of a very differnt Age - the Age that seemed to die a bit after the Bicentennial ( The Carter Years). The American character seemed to erode. Kids got fatter. Worshippers got lazier. Voters got indifferent. Doing for yourself disappeared.

Chesty Puller was something. Five Navy Crosses and more quotations than Bartlet's Chesty Puller was the bar that many Americans reached to achieve. As kids we were to taught by teachers and coaches to 'never 'Dog It' ( put forth a lazy effort) or let down the team. Those ideals are the subject of ridicule and contempt by powerful people who always dog it and never care for anyone but themselves. It is a Maddof and Maddow World!

Chesty Puller's was better and so were Americans.

Lewis "Chesty" Puller

Dates

Born June 26, 1898. West Point, Virginia.
Died October 11, 1971. Hampton, Virginia.

Biography

Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell 'Chesty' Puller is considered by many to be the greatest Marine ever. Lewis Puller served in Haiti, china, Nicaragua, Korea, and World War II. He is the only Marine to be awarded the Navy Cross five times for heroism and gallantry in combat. Puller served in the US Marine Corps for 37 years, and was at sea or overseas for 27 of those years.

Puller attended Virginia Military Institute until dropping out to join the Marines in August of 1918, hoping to see service in World War I. Appointed a second lieutenant in the reserves, he was discharged due to force cutbacks after the war. Puller then re-enter the Marines as an enlisted man to serve with a military force in Haiti.

Puller saw frequent action during his five years in Haiti against the Caco rebels. Returning to the US in 1924, Puller was commissioned a second lieutenant. Puller served in Nicaragua from 1928 to 1933 where he earned two Navy Crosses. After leaving Nicaragua, Puller went to China and commanded the famed "Horse Marines."

Puller commanded the 7th Regiment of the 1st Marine Division during action on Gualalcanal in World War II. Puller earned his third Navy Cross on 24-25 October 1942 while his battalion defended Henderson Field against seasoned Japanese troops. Puller's men sustained less than 70 casualties while killing over 1400 Japanese and protecting the airfield.

Puller won his fourth Navy Cross in February 1944 while executive officer of 7th Marines at Cape Gloucester, moving through machine gun and mortar fire to take command of two battalions whose commanders had been killed.

Puller landed with the 1st Marines at Inchon, Korea, in September of 1950. Puller continued to serve in Korea until May of 1951. LtGen Puller retired in 1955 after serving 37 years and earning five Navy Crosses, the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit with "V", the Bronze Star, the Bronze Star with "V", the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. In 1966, at the age of 68, Puller requested to return to active duty for service in Vietnam, but was turned down due to his age.

Quotes

"Take me to the Brig. I want to see the "real Marines". "


"All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time."

"We're surrounded... that simplifies our problem."

"Son, if they give you any shit, level the place." Orders to a company commander.

Jack Howard died a couple of years ago and Leo Alumni behind Alumni President Richard Furlong live up to the standards set by Jack Howard - an all black Catholic high school for boys is funded 99.6% by white Irish, Italian, Polish, Lithuanian, German, Belgian and Dutch guys.

Americans have forgotten about Chesty Puller. We watch CNN,MSNBC and have the submission of an American President to King Abdullah explained to us. We had better get to those calisthenics - spiritual, moral and physical.

Thomas Jefferson Was Not Distracted by Piracy. President Obama is Distracted by Khat Chewing Psychos - Attack Them, Mr. President!

The last time a U.S. Flag vessel was taken on the high seas by pirates was in 1804. Barbary Pirates viewed our fledgling Republic as weak. Thomas Jefferson, an 18th Century Rock Star if there ever was one, determined to put America's interests over the opinion of other States.

Thomas Jefferson's Navy and Marines wiped out the pirates. Pirates, Barbary or otherwise,never again attacked United States merchant ships - until this week.

Somali pirates, Khat chewing, AK-47 waving sociopaths, understand weakness. They also understand tough Indian sailors who had the political will to blow them out of the water at Christmas time. President Obama's response to a question from a reporter yesterday was most unsettling, "Thanks guys, but we're talking about housing." ?

The Rand Corporation think tankers believe that it is time to hit the pirates where they live, but perhaps President Obama is a afraid of offending the Legalize Drug Crowd that wildly supported his candidacy. After all the Khat chewers are the targets of such a strike. Perhaps that might make Americans rethink the 'Dope is harmless' nonsense being trumpeted by lawyers, community activists, Hollywood, and stoners.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/apr/10/obama-careful-quiet-on-pirate-drama/

This much more disturbing revelation of President Obama's second challenge from International thugs ( remember N.Korea?) invites greater scrutiny. This distraction joins the 'nothing' on the N.Korean missile launch and denial of a bow to a Saudi Prince. This is not Sesame Street and if it is, it is controlled by the Gang-bangers of the world.

I like President Obama. I liked him as a State Legislator. I did not support President Obama as a Democrat and worked for John McCain, because I did not believe that Barack Obama had the qualities to be President - aside from wearing a great suit and having the good sense to marry a lovely woman.

These events seem to bear out my unease over Barack Obama's leap over the political gradus.

Thomas Jefferson had a thick resume, before coming to the Presidency - a political theorist, Revolutionary leader, crafter of the Declaration of Independence, agriculturalist, University founder, inventor, vintner, writer and above all proven Patriot.

Thomas Jefferson took action. Jefferson would never have said,"Thanks guys, but we're talking about design for Monticello."

In 1804 President Thomas Jefferson said "Enough" to paying 20 percent of the US national budget as tribute to Barbary pirates. His response was clear and successful – build a strong naval task force, equip it with a sizeable contingent of Marines, and send it to attack and defeat the pirates in their lair. The sailors and Marines sent on that mission did just that – and in the process wrote a stirring page in our nation's early history.

The problem today is that we have refused to take the Jefferson model. We've confined our anti-piracy efforts to the open seas and left the pirates' home bases on land as a sanctuary. Thus, the pirates continue to operate with relative freedom and stealth. We and our allies only respond, never seizing the initiative.

The Jefferson model is a better answer: Take on the pirates where they are, rather than guessing where they will be. In short, attack them at their home bases.

That was Thomas Jefferson. This is the Obama Presidency.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0410/p99s01-cole.html

Backdraft Barney Franks - Sets the Fire and Leads the Keystone Fire Brigade!

The movie Backdraft's core plot involved an arsonist who happened to be a fireman. A great essayist in today's post here says that Barney Franks is our Fiscal Arsonist/Firefighter. Brilliant.

Barney Franks, the House Puffer Fish Banking Bashaw, got a tune-up from a young yarmulke wearing student this past week and revealed himself in that exchange to Be the very model of the hypocrite in elected office.

Barney Franks is openly Gay, God Bless Him, and Progressives watch over Barney's critics and pounce that any and all criticism is gay bashing. Barney Franks is such a useless mope of a human being that, were he straight, or given to sexually gratifying himself with four pound boxes of cashews would not matter a whit. Well, maybe the cashews would be a bit uneasy.

Barney is a crumb. He is the cause of a bar fight, who rats out the participants to cops. He is the schoolyard snitch writ large.

Today, I read a wonderfully thoughtful piece on this crumb - here's a taste:

I bore witness to Frank's song and dance routine during a talk he recently gave at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. A video of the forum can be found here. (http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/articles/forum-frank-apr09)

It is worth noting that Frank attended Harvard College in the early 1960s and later become the first Director of Student Programs at Harvard's Institute of Politics. David Ellwood, the Dean of the Kennedy School, told an anecdote about Frank clandestinely escorting Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara away from anti-Vietnam student demonstrators threatening to riot when McNamara made a campus visit. Frank escorted McNamara to the safety of a seminar run by future Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

However, by his own admission, Frank said, "I was in charge of making sure that didn't happen. So, yes, I did kind o like the arsonist who puts out the fire, I got him out of a mess I was supposed to have prevented."

Somehow I don't think he appreciated the irony of his own statement.

Not surprisingly Frank spent much of his lecture blaming conservatives and Republicans for our current economic mess. "The deregulators had their way and the consequence is the disaster we now face," he exhorted. Frank accused conservatives and Republicans of "blaming the victim." He explained, "The argument is that the attempt by liberals to help poor people that made them make all these bad loans and that's what caused all these problems."

Frank excoriated the Republican Congress for not passing any legislation to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to restrict sub-prime loans. "The conservative view is to stop helping poor people . . . No, our view is to help poor people," said the 15-term member of Congress.

Of course, what Frank doesn't mention is that the Bush Administration did want to regulate Fannie and Freddie. In September 2003, the Bush Administration wanted to set up an agency in the Treasury Department to supervise Fannie and Freddie.

Guess who was opposed?

Click my post titel for the rest of this fine article.

Chicago's homegrown louse, Mile Quigley ( D.5th District)joined Barney's Ship of Fools this week. The Democratic Clown Opera in Congress needs a huge tent!

Somali Pirates - AP says Nothing Can be Done. Really. Well,Listen to James Brown!

Asymmetrical warfare was a term that I heard used by my pal Mark Manning when he was serving as a surgeon in the United States Air Force during Desert Storm back in the 1990's. Manning a medical man understood that the powerful nations could be weakened by terrorists - 'Hickey, the guys with Molotov cocktails can take out a multi-million dollar tank like the Afghans did to the Russians. You have all these million dollar weapons systems and talented people operating them and a clown with pistol can sneak aboard an aircraft carrier and sink it. That's asymmetrical warfare Pal-ey.'

How do nations fight asymmetrical wars? The Associated Press wants all of us to know that we can not and they went to all the right people to confirm this.

Despite America's technical and firepower edge, there is too much ocean to cover, and too many commercial vessels to protect, for full-time patrols or escorts for threatened ships.

U.S. legal authority is limited, too, even in the Maersk Alabama's case of American hostages and a cargo of donated American food. Somali pirates, emboldened by fat ransoms, have little reason to fear capture.

"The military component here is always going to be marginal," said Peter Chalk, an expert on maritime national security at the private Rand Corp.

According to the Navy, it would take 61 ships to control the shipping route in the Gulf of Aden, which is just a fraction of the 1.1 million square miles where the pirates have operated. A U.S.-backed international anti-piracy coalition currently has 12 to 16 ships patrolling the region at any one time.

The Alabama was first American Flag vessel taken by pirates since 1804. There is a reason for that - American will.

I asked Major Manning, M.D. U.S.A.F. (ret.),' how do you fight such a war?'

The same way you fought bullies who jumped you on the way to school. You go back and teach them a lesson.

James Brown, the God Father of Soul, offered this analysis of Asymmetrical Warfare -

Took my money, you got my honey
Don't want me to see what you doing to me
I got to get back I gotta deal with you!! (4xs) Hey let me tell ya!!
Get down with my woman, that ain't right! You hollarin' and cussin', you wanna
fight!!
Don't do me no darn favor,
I don't know karate, but I know KA-RAZY!!!! (yes we do!!)

War Over Tribute ( Ransom) - The Jefferson Doctrine on Piracy

The Somali Pirates were treated to a powerful American Maritime History lesson when the crew of the Alabama overwhelmed their attackers and forced them over the side. I am waiting for the ACLU and Ramsey Clark to initiate action against the American sailors and the shipping company for damages stemming from racial profiling, American Cowboy posturing and racist torture.

We live in a strange age dominated by goofs with briefcases and politicians more afraid of loudmouths than terrorists. Heroes get treated to MSNBC Daily Kos abuse, as did General Petreus, while goofs like Bobby Rush get to kiss the Castro Brothers.

Thomas Jefferson, considered in his time to be a wild-eyed radical, was an American Patriot before all else. While Ambassador to France, Jefferson learned the Art of Cowards and recoiled from it.

Read this great essay below by Gerald Gawalt the manuscript specialist for the Thomas Jefferson Papers Collection in the context of the Somali Pirates.

After the United States won its independence in the treaty of 1783, it had to protect its own commerce against dangers such as the Barbary pirates. As early as 1784 Congress followed the tradition of the European shipping powers and appropriated $80,000 as tribute to the Barbary states, directing its ministers in Europe, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, to begin negotiations with them. Trouble began the next year, in July 1785, when Algerians captured two American ships and the dey of Algiers held their crews of twenty-one people for a ransom of nearly $60,000.

Thomas Jefferson, United States minister to France, opposed the payment of tribute, as he later testified in words that have a particular resonance today. In his autobiography Jefferson wrote that in 1785 and 1786 he unsuccessfully "endeavored to form an association of the powers subject to habitual depredation from them. I accordingly prepared, and proposed to their ministers at Paris, for consultation with their governments, articles of a special confederation." Jefferson argued that "The object of the convention shall be to compel the piratical States to perpetual peace." Jefferson prepared a detailed plan for the interested states. "Portugal, Naples, the two Sicilies, Venice, Malta, Denmark and Sweden were favorably disposed to such an association," Jefferson remembered, but there were "apprehensions" that England and France would follow their own paths, "and so it fell through."

Paying the ransom would only lead to further demands, Jefferson argued in letters to future presidents John Adams, then America's minister to Great Britain, and James Monroe, then a member of Congress. As Jefferson wrote to Adams in a July 11, 1786, letter, "I acknolege [sic] I very early thought it would be best to effect a peace thro' the medium of war." Paying tribute will merely invite more demands, and even if a coalition proves workable, the only solution is a strong navy that can reach the pirates, Jefferson argued in an August 18, 1786, letter to James Monroe: "The states must see the rod; perhaps it must be felt by some one of them. . . . Every national citizen must wish to see an effective instrument of coercion, and should fear to see it on any other element than the water. A naval force can never endanger our liberties, nor occasion bloodshed; a land force would do both." "From what I learn from the temper of my countrymen and their tenaciousness of their money," Jefferson added in a December 26, 1786, letter to the president of Yale College, Ezra Stiles, "it will be more easy to raise ships and men to fight these pirates into reason, than money to bribe them."

Jefferson's plan for an international coalition foundered on the shoals of indifference and a belief that it was cheaper to pay the tribute than fight a war. The United States's relations with the Barbary states continued to revolve around negotiations for ransom of American ships and sailors and the payment of annual tributes or gifts. Even though Secretary of State Jefferson declared to Thomas Barclay, American consul to Morocco, in a May 13, 1791, letter of instructions for a new treaty with Morocco that it is "lastly our determination to prefer war in all cases to tribute under any form, and to any people whatever," the United States continued to negotiate for cash settlements. In 1795 alone the United States was forced to pay nearly a million dollars in cash, naval stores, and a frigate to ransom 115 sailors from the dey of Algiers. Annual gifts were settled by treaty on Algiers, Morocco, Tunis, and Tripoli. When Jefferson became president in 1801 he refused to accede to Tripoli's demands for an immediate payment of $225,000 and an annual payment of $25,000. The pasha of Tripoli then declared war on the United States. Although as secretary of state and vice president he had opposed developing an American navy capable of anything more than coastal defense, President Jefferson dispatched a squadron of naval vessels to the Mediterranean. As he declared in his first annual message to Congress: "To this state of general peace with which we have been blessed, one only exception exists. Tripoli, the least considerable of the Barbary States, had come forward with demands unfounded either in right or in compact, and had permitted itself to denounce war, on our failure to comply before a given day. The style of the demand admitted but one answer. I sent a small squadron of frigates into the Mediterranean. . . ."

The American show of force quickly awed Tunis and Algiers into breaking their alliance with Tripoli. The humiliating loss of the frigate Philadelphia and the capture of her captain and crew in Tripoli in 1803, criticism from his political opponents, and even opposition within his own cabinet did not deter Jefferson from his chosen course during four years of war. The aggressive action of Commodore Edward Preble (1803-4) forced Morocco out of the fight and his five bombardments of Tripoli restored some order to the Mediterranean. However, it was not until 1805, when an American fleet under Commodore John Rogers and a land force raised by an American naval agent to the Barbary powers, Captain William Eaton, threatened to capture Tripoli and install the brother of Tripoli's pasha on the throne, that a treaty brought an end to the hostilities. Negotiated by Tobias Lear, former secretary to President Washington and now consul general in Algiers, the treaty of 1805 still required the United States to pay a ransom of $60,000 for each of the sailors held by the dey of Algiers, and so it went without Senatorial consent until April 1806. Nevertheless, Jefferson was able to report in his sixth annual message to Congress in December 1806 that in addition to the successful completion of the Lewis and Clark expedition, "The states on the coast of Barbary seem generally disposed at present to respect our peace and friendship."

In fact, it was not until the second war with Algiers, in 1815, that naval victories by Commodores William Bainbridge and Stephen Decatur led to treaties ending all tribute payments by the United States. European nations continued annual payments until the 1830s. However, international piracy in Atlantic and Mediterranean waters declined during this time under pressure from the Euro-American nations, who no longer viewed pirate states as mere annoyances during peacetime and potential allies during war.

Barney Bashes Boisterous Boston Boyo!

Barney Franks, Chris Dodd, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid make it pretty hard for any Real Democrat to vote at the national level much less not wet his/her britches when listening to them.

I love local Democrats - Mary Flowers, Kevin Joyce, Jackie Collins, Ed Maloney and the great 19th Ward Committeeman Matt O'Shea. These are people with their eyes on tasks that help people get through their lives with more ease and prove that sometimes giovernment is there to help.

Not Barney and the other beauts. Bloated Barney got tuned up by a smart young guy in a yarmulke this week. The student asked Barney if the Bloated Banking Bashaw felt responsible for the trainwreck in the banking crises ( AIG, Fannie Mae & etc.). Instead of standing like a man and politely answering the question, the young man was treated to Barney the Puffer Fish.

"I became chairman on January -- and this is the right-wing attack on liberals to try and stop regulation that you are repeating. On January 31st, I became the chairman. On March 28th, the committee passed a very tough Fannie/Freddie bill, which the Bush administration liked. Later that year in November, we passed a bill to restrict subprime lending. Because we did the subprime lending restrictions, Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, did what Alan Greenspan refused to do and said, OK, I'll do that.

"So I do want to ask you, when you suggest that I should apologize for something or take responsibility, what is it you think I should have done that I didn't do?"

Barney then called the young man a Right Wing Attack Agent!

Earlier Barney in a more mellow moment said this, "No institution anywhere in the financial system ought to be able to get so indebted that it threatens our financial stability,"

Oh, NO he didn't! Mmmm! Barney didn't! Mmmmmmm, Girl! Go on, get him to say 'Pepperoni Pizza Plays Party Politics Pathetically!'

Spy Wednesday - Judas 'The Whistleblower' Drops a Dime on His Boss

Judas carried the purse. He then sold out the guy who had trusted him with the gelt to the Boys at the Temple for 30 pieces of silver.

Not many little Judases in my neighborhood or immediate circle.

In fact, in my very un- PC and close-knit ethnic and tribal network, being a rat and a dime-dropper makes a person lower than whale-poop.

A columnist for whom I have no regard whatsoever tells all and sundry of his great worship and study of Dante's Divine Comedy, in much the same way as the fatuous name-dropping poser Studs Terkel carried around James T. Farrell's Studs Lonigan Trilogy. This goof is a dedicated Catholic-baiter and recently tried to give Cardinal George media discomfort with his flabby understanding of my Faith and my coreligionists - the very same people he recently smeared as Nazi-thugs in a very self-indulgent and stupid column.

I really need to speak from the heart.

Anyway. Judas was a louse. He betrayed the Son of God to all of us Catholics, many of us Christians and even the Jews for Jesus. To everyone else in this Global Village - Judas betrayed a man who treated him with respect, kindness, trust and affection.

Judas is the founder of the Feast of Spy Wednesday - a great name that -in which we Catholics remember that without betrayal Redemption could not have happened.

Here is my Cardinal - Francis Cardinal George on Judas - who went out after betraying Christ and committed the Dutch Act - huge sin. The sin of Despair. Louses can be forgiven. By Christ/God and Holy Persons like Cardinal George. I am just too close-knit and ethnic. Cardinal George is Christlike:

Wednesday of Holy Week brings us face to face with Judas Iscariot, who engineered Jesus’ death by betraying him to his enemies. In recent years, there have been a few attempts to “rehabilitate” Judas, explain away his apparently evil intentions and paint him as someone who really only wanted to force Jesus to show his power in extreme danger.

It seems to me that efforts like that say a lot more about us than about Judas. We love victims of previous era’s prejudices because accepting them confirms how enlightened we are. Even Judas, whom the poet Dante put in the lowest pit of hell, becomes a foil for our sense of superiority.

Judas kissed Jesus, the Gospel tells us. Did Jesus forgive his betrayer? Jesus died praying that his Father would forgive his enemies, and that would include Judas. We don’t know Judas’ eternal fate, but we do know that forgiving your enemies means you can’t feel superior to them.

I like to read the Psalms because they are filled with threats against the Psalmist’s enemies, and at times, I would like to see my enemies destroyed. But our greatest enemies are our own sins. It’s hard to keep a sense of enlightened superiority when examining our sins. They put us in Judas’ league. Rehabilitation, however, isn’t a matter of finding excuses; spiritual rehabilitation follows from confessing one’s sins and accepting forgiveness with humble gratitude.

Cardinal George and Bishops Object to Notre Dame's Folly - not the President's; that Is His Problem

Dan Kelley sent this fine note to the Editorial Board at The Chicago Tribune. They will read this note - it is doubtful that the Editorial Board at the Sun Times can, much less would, read this.

Francis Cardinal George is not alone in his criticism of Notre Dame University's invitation to President Obama to speak at commencement and to receive an honorary degree: The twenty-five bishops who have so far gone public with their disapproval of Notre Dame's invitation of Obama (in alphabetical order) are:

1. Bishop John D'Arcy - Fort Wayne-South Bend

2. Bishop Gregory Aymond - Austin
3. Archbishop Eusebius Beltran - Oklahoma City
4. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú, San Antonio
5. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo - Houston
6. Archbishop Timothy Dolan - New York
7. Bishop Thomas Doran - Rockford
8. Auxiliary Bishop John Dougherty - Scranton
9. Cardinal Francis George - Chicago, President, USCCB
10. Archbishop José Gomez, San Antonio


11. Bishop William Higi, Lafayette, IN
12. Archbishop Alfred Hughs, New Orleans
13. Bishop Jerome Listecki, La Crosse, WI
14. Bishop William E. Lori, Bridgeport, CT
15. Bishop Robert Lynch - St. Petersburg
16. Bishop Joseph Martino - Scranton
17. Bishop Charles Morlino - Madison
18. Bishop George Murry, Youngstown, OH
19. Archbishop John J. Myers - Newark20. Bishop R. Walker Nickless - Sioux City.
21. Archbishop John C. Nienstedt - Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota
22. Bishop Thomas Olmsted - Phoneix
23. Bishop Kevin Rhoades - Harrisburg
24. Bishop Edward J. Slattery - Tulsa
25. Bishop Anthony Taylor, Little Rock, AR

Cardinal George and most Catholics do not object to the President being invited to Notre Dame, but not as a recipient of an Honorary Law Degree or Commencement Speaker.

Notre Dame's Jenkins was too cute by half and seemed to believe that MSNBC could 'shout' this controversy quiet. 'Oh, Joe Biden, Teddy Kenendy, John Kerry, the Daley Lads, Chris 'Milky' Matthews and Bill Maher are all Catholics and they have no problem with this Honor! Let's bring People Together and smear Catholic Faith and Morals!'

It's here. It will stay.

Ann Deegan of Glen Ellyn had this poignant response to Bill Daley's bumptious kiss-up in the Chicago Tribune:

April 7, 2009
In response to William M. Daley's commentary ("Uneasy mix of religion and politics," Commentary, April 3), Cardinal Francis George deserves praise for his stand on Notre Dame's invitation of President Obama to speak at its commencement ceremony and receive an honorary degree. It should be noted that the cardinal expressed his opinion on behalf of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, of which he is president, not as Archbishop of Chicago. He stated in that speech, "As president of the U.S. bishops' conference I have to speak precisely for the bishops and not in my own name, as I could as Archbishop of Chicago."

If Notre Dame's invitation were for the president to participate in a debate about issues such as abortion or embryonic stem cell research, Obama would be an excellent choice to represent the opposing view. This invitation, however, is meant to honor a man who adamantly opposes the Catholic Church's view on these matters and has publicly demonstrated this through major policy decisions and appointments since taking office. This is simply not the place or the setting for a person of such diametric views.

If Notre Dame is truly a Catholic university, it would respect the inappropriateness of such an invitation. Those who signed off on the decision need to reexamine "what it means to be Catholic" and recognize the disrespect their decision has for the Catholic Church and its followers, particularly those at Notre Dame. I respect the cardinal and his fellow bishops for their courageous and correct response.

Ann Deegan,Glen Ellyn

Euphues, Ben Johnson, Ben Jonson, Monogamy, and Michelle Leigh the Weather Bee!

It is virtue, yea virtue, gentlemen, that maketh gentlemen; that maketh the poor rich, the base-born noble, the subject a sovereign, the deformed beautiful, the sick whole, the weak strong, the most miserable most happy. There are two principal and peculiar gifts in the nature of man, knowledge and reason; the one commandeth, and the other obeyeth: these things neither the whirling wheel of fortune can change, neither the deceitful cavillings of worldlings separate, neither sickness abate, neither age abolish. --- Euphues, the Anatomy of Wit


I have never, ever knowly taken illegal drugs, and I would never embarrass my family, my friends, my country and the kids who love me. Ben Johnson - famous Cowboy actor

The ports of death are sins; of life, good deeds:
Through which our merit leads us to our meeds.
How willful blind is he then, that would stray,
And hath it in his powers, to make his way!
This world death's region is, the other life's:
And here, it should be one of our first strifes,
So to front death, as men might judge us past it.
For good men but see death, the wicked taste it.
Ben Jonson


I am conflicted! I am a devout monogamist - married or otherwise. I am single minded and soul'd to the superb woman who holds my heart and soul in her delicate fingers. I was steady as Don Larson on October 8th 1956 with my beloved wife Mary, who went home to Christ eleven years ago. However, I am a Male and can not throw switch on the circuit that shuts off the juice to the stupid bone between my ears.

Thus, during my late wife Mary's final days she noticed that I always had FOX 32 New on in the morning when I ministerd to her blood work, pills, comforts and immediate wants.

'Checking out the blond bimbo with the righteous knockers,Bucko?'
No Sweetie - I like Fox weather and news.

'Bullshit.'

Honor Bright

'You making plans for after my departure? Look simpleton, that Knocker Numbskull wouldn't know clouds from laundry -( mimicing the Uber-Sexy Ms. Leigh with dead-on venom and skill) Helllllllo Chicago its Cold out today on Leather Day!. . . and SoooooooooWet!'

You do me great dishonor, Mary!

' Oh, Yeah, Bright-boy. You clowns are pathetic. It's the Male Stupid Bone - that thing that passes for a brain in you guys! Did You join her Fan Club yet???'

ENOUGH, Madame! . . . and so it would continue.

Like most of us saggingly sorry middle aged males, Michelle Leigh was part of a Man's hearty breakfast!

Yesterday, I received a notice that said Miss Leigh has her own Weather Site! I am enchanted!

I remain One Conflicted Bottle Nosed Dope -Pat Hickey - He's fun to watch;
So is Michelle Leigh - women universal notwithstanding! Check out Michelle Leigh's Weathervibe site -click my post title.

Gentlemen, get a hearty breakfast again!

Warm thoughts, Indeed

People of Guam - Fear Not the Taepodong-2! The Community Activist in Chief and The United Nations are On It!

President Obama took a pimp slap from Kim Jong IL like an Ivy League college boy in bar full of Chorus line dancers: Meek, Annoyed, Hurt and Non-threateningly Fawning.

North Korea broke the rules, once again, by testing a rocket that could be used for long-range missiles," said Mr. Obama. "This provocation underscores the need for action - not just this afternoon at the UN Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons. Rules must be binding . . . Today I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons!" said Mr. Obama. Wow! Is He Mildly Concerned.

But U.N. will do . . . .nothing, but free-load in New York.

Japan had called for the emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on Sunday. But the 15 members agreed only to discuss the matter further, diplomats said.

The United States, Japan and South Korea say the launch violated Security Council resolutions banning the firing of ballistic missiles by Pyongyang, imposed after a nuclear test and other missile exercises in 2006.

Council diplomats said China, the nearest North Korea has to a major ally, and Russia were not convinced the launch of what North Korea said was a satellite was a violation of U.N. rules. Three other countries supported this view.

"It's 10 against five," one diplomat told Reuters.

The U.S. military and South Korea said no part of the Taepodong-2 rocket entered orbit.

South Korea's biggest daily the Chosun Ilbo, quoting government sources, said the rocket flew 3,200 km (2,000 miles), which would put the U.S. territory of Guam nearly in reach.

Kim Jong Il is said to have had a stroke. President Obama is in robust health.

Kim Jong Il just pee'd on your Florsheim's Mr. President!
Keep Hope Alive!

More Likely - Kiss Your Ass Goodbye.

Charter Schools Offer Hope - Teachers Union the Anchor of Failure

I have three kids in a charter school and two in union CPS schools. The quality difference between the teachers and the kids performance is stark.

Comment on Chicagoist Click my post title for the full Chicagoist feature.

Charter Schools offer a stark contract to Chicago Public Schools - Catholic Schools Offer much more than that - real documented success. Charters are pretty good alternatives to wasteful and incompetant public schools dominated by Teachers unions.

Teachers unions seem to do little more than haven the useless, and protect the lazy.

Public School Teachers want to be considered Professionals like accountants, doctors and lawyers, but demand to be insulated from accountability. I worked only in Catholic Schools and worked only with professionals - the weak and the incompetant went off to find new lines of work - some in the Public Schools.

Chicago Catholic School Superintendent Mary Paul McCaughey noted in talk to the Fifty of Friday Club last week that graduates of Catholic Schools go on to college - 97% go on to college.

CPS is saddled with a less than 37% high school graduation rate for young men.

CPS is staffed with 100% Chicago Teachers Union membership - Marilyn Stewart CPS President spent last year locking a rival out of his offices at CTU. ( see the Ted Dallas Document above)

Yet Marilyn Stewart offered this about Charter Teachers joining CTU:

CTU President Marilyn Stewart and Illinois Federation of Teachers President Ed Geppert, Jr. had this to say in a joint statement: “We are very supportive of this strong group of teachers and staff at the Chicago International Charter Schools’ as they form a union. These charter school teachers and staff are acting today to improve their schools’ operations and environment for their student’s performance. We feel as strongly as they do that the views of teachers and staff are critical to school success and that school administrators must formally recognize the teachers and staff contributions. Their dedication will help their schools become trailblazers of innovation and collaboration within community.”

These charter school teachers and staff are acting today to improve their schools’ operations and environment for their student’s performance.

Marilyn, you have got to be kidding! For real?

Charters were enacted to offere real competition and not 'same old, same old, Marilyn!

It's not about power for you Marilyn! It's about the Children! It's all about the Children! Right?

A real hard-hitting journalist should take a very, very hard look at Marilyn Stewart's hard run at Charter Schools.

I think something stinky is afoot!

Palm Sunday - Cardinal George the New Cardinal Von Galen - Two Heroic Voices Over the American Cowed and Cowardly!

"These are people, our brothers and sisters; maybe their life is unproductive, but productivity is not a justification for killing."

Clemens August Graf von Galen: Neue Forschungen zum Leben und Wirken des Bischofs von Muenster. Edited by Joachim Kuropka. (Muenster: Regensburg. 1992. Pp. 439. DM 48.) Clemens August Graf von Galen, Bishop of Muenster (and, after the war, Cardinal), earned the reputation of being a resister to National Socialism. At home and abroad, von Galen was depicted as a representative of the "other" Germany; the Germany which refused to be co-ordinated to Nazism's ideology. He received worldwide fame in August, 1941, when he delivered a series of sermons in which he took aim at Nazi policies, ...

During the Palm Sunday homily at Sacred Heart Church, Father McKenna brought up the heroic Clemens August Cardinal Graf Von Galen - some handle that.

Von Galen was beatified in 2005 by the Church and paid a mere nodding attention to that fact.

However, at the tiny French Mission Church in Washington Heights on the south side, Father McKenna sparked my interest.

Father McKenna mentioned the beating that Francis Cardinal George had been taking in media and from Chicago pols on the wrong side of the Notre Dame suck up to Abortion.

Father McKenna paralleled the heroic voice of Cardinal George to that of the forgotten German Cardinal Von Galen who defied Hitler and his Cult of Death.

Like Abortion, a political will that murders the elderly, the helpless and the undesirable is a cult of Death. Hitler hated smoking and loved Abortion and Euthanasia was aided and abetted by the cowed and the cowardly-Hitler advanced science and research over morality.

The Bishop of Muenster railed against this Cult of Death. Like the Archbishop of Chicago, Von Galen, a German aristocrat ( hence the Graf Von) was vilified by likes of Alfred Rosenberg, Joey Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler, as well as the Agent of Change - Hitler. Cardinal George took a sucker slap from Bill Daley, the Mayor's Brother, probably because the Daley's want President Obama to lean on the Olympic Committees , so Pat Ryan can get some Insurance Business. Abortion can be a huge help to the Olympics! Yes! We Can!

Back in Hitler's Germany, where the Nazi's put on just a Swell Olympics, the mentally handicapped, the elderly, the insane, the deformed and the unwanted murdered as Research Tools to make health issues more viable. Cardinal Von Galen loudly attacked the Cult of Death and Racism - Yep, the Catholic Archbishop of Muenster loudly attacked the persecution of German Jews as well.

For his efforts, Hitler had Von Galen -placed under house arrest - he couldn't and didn't want to make the bishop a martyr. Can't have that - Nein!

Von Galen died shortly after the War and Progressive Revisionist history swept his heroic efforts under the carpet.

Like Cardinal George, Blessed Cardinal Von Galen is a heroic voice for the weakest and most vulnerable.

Nuanced Progressive Thought on Abortion

Here is the response from an American Progressive to Cardinal George's heroic and priestly Defense of Life in the recent Notre Dame Controversy:

As per usual, the religious whacks are only interested in a clump of developing cells and don't give a damn about living, breathing, walking, feeling children who are abused in their care. I suppose it is in line with the ex-Nazi Youth Pope who curses the use of condoms and sane sex education. This makes me sick.

You can learn more Progressive Thought at Buzzflash News


PROGRESSIVE BOOKS, MOVIES, AND MUSIC- FOR PROGRESSIVES, BY PROGRESSIVES, ON BUZZFLASH


http://buzzflash.com/articles/node/8137

IHS - Iota Eta Sigma - Cardinal George, Palm Sunday, and Chicago

At Little Flower Grammar School near 79th & Wood Street - it was actually on 8000 S. Honore, I believe that it occurred just after Bold Teddy got back from bashing Spain in Cuba, I remember asking one of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Doralese ( who genuinely and cordially hated my guts), about the meaning of the Three Letters that seemed to adorn every altar, pillar, and church facade in the Church Universal.

S'tir? What's them three mean?'

'Them three what? Them three what? Speak like a Christian and not one of them 69th Street Loafers.'

S'tir, the them three letters what's on the altar over by there.

'What specific three letters, you horrible little man!' ( for Authenticity - hiss and spit each syllable)

IHS - them there.

'Are you some hillbilly? Ask -'Sister Doralese, I have a name you know, please explain the meaning of acronym IHS?'

'S'tir, explain the acorn on the altar over by there.

'God's Mercy! Kneel down! Now! Stay kneeling! Open your books while this one learns some manners!'

And so another paragraph was added to the volumes of my ignorance. Many, Many years later, I learned that each letter represented a Greek Letter: I -Iota - H ( or Haitch as some of the ignorant FBI Foreign Born Irish would pronounce the strange bi-consonant - yes, it was BI - it could swing both ways!) eta and the S stood for Sigma - the collective use by persecuted Christians symbolized Christ - IHSOUS Jesus This is what Jesus would have sewn onto his blue blazer - the Monogram of Jesus.

'Sharp, there Jesus! Man you are Mel Collins; Sea Breeze Lounge Clean! Yeow!Get it at Lyttons?'

Naw, Baskins over on 95th near Longwood! Half-a -Yard On Sale!

'Son of God -You are Duked Out Nicely for a poor kid from Bethlehem!' . . .

Sorry, but I digress . . .

I recalled one of my painful lessons learned from the Sisters of Mercy, because of the rough week Francis Cardinal George has had again at this Holiest of Times to Catholics and most Christians - Easter.

Last year, Cardinal George and the parishioners of Holy Name Cathedral parish were splattered with blood from six nitwits who wanted to domestic terrorists.

This year Holy Name Cathedral caught fire and Cardinal George found himself again attacked by media morons for defending the faith in the flap over Notre Dame ( Neutered Dome -rather) affirmation of President Obama as Abortionist in Chief by conferring an Honorary Degree upon the most strident Abortion President in American History. Barack Obama has set himself up as the Abraham Lincoln of Abortion.

That's nice - but no Catholic school should honor that political decision.

Cardinal George lit into that decision and Religion Swami goofball at the Chicago Tribune's Manya Brachear is soiling her Speedo's in response:

how could the cardinal be surprised that his remarks went viral when the world was on the edge of their seats to hear what he had to say?

With all due respect, Cardinal, in the age of YouTube, every conference is a press conference.

The cardinal's diplomatic words on Friday might have guided the conversation earlier. In clarifying his remarks, he expressed deep respect for Obama and the office of the President. He also acknowledged that he and Obama agree on many issues.

“On other things, particularly on this issue, he has his own principles that are well thought out,” the cardinal said

In fact, the cardinal implied, Obama’s plan to speak is not really the central issue that should be discussed.

“In Catholic community, whatever anyone does affects anybody else,” he said. “We can think of scandals. We can think of problems. Therefore, no institution that calls itself Catholic can be unilateral.”

“So the decision in a sense corroborates our theology,” he continued. “What one of us does in Catholicism affects us all and I think that’s the question that has to be discussed.”

What do you think? Is the issue Obama at Notre Dame or is the issue really how the invitation was offered to begin with?

With all due respect ( Code for 'Gee that is really stupid!') Manya . . . are you really that stupid> Of course you are a Chicago religion writer! Chicago Newspapers compete to have the absolute biggest dummies write about religion.

The Cardinal spoke very clearly - Notre Dame is wrong in giving President Obama an Honorary Degree, because he is the most strident Abortion President in history.

It is not about dialog - it is not about having the President on campus - it is about affirming a grave sin to all Catholics ( whether they choose to believe that or not) and a school that has shed its right to call itself Catholic.

Today, is Palm Sunday which always seemed like the most Politically Correct Feast Day in the Catholic Cycle. It is the MOST phony - a real political rally for Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem on a Donkey ( DNC?) to hypocrites waving palms - that is all of us. We wave Palms - pay lip service to our Faith and Scream for Crucifixion in four day - like go along with President Barack Obama's will to make Abortion - the killing of children just a dandy feature of American life.

Cardinal George is no Palm Waver. He takes the hits - with great and stunning regularity.

Cardinal George is one hell of a priest in an age dominated by Clerical Cupcakes and Doctrinal trimmers.

Cardinal George lives the three letters that I asked the Galway-bred theological genius Sr. Doralese R.S.M. ( Religious Sisters of Mercy) and was put on my knees for thirty minutes and rewarded with continued ignorance for years.

Cardinal George would have told me -

'Good Question , there Kiddo Here's the deal -
Jesus Christ in Greek is ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ and written in the English alphabet is "IHCOYC XPICTOC" or "IHSOYS XPISTOS"

Starting in the third century the nomina sacra, or names of Jesus, were sometimes shortened by contraction in Christian inscriptions, resulting in sequences of Greek letters such as:

+ Jesus +
IH (iota eta)
IC (iota sigma) (first and last letter)
IHC (iota eta sigma)
IHS (iota eta sigma)
JH (iota eta)
JC (iota sigma)
JHC (iota eta sigma)
JHS (iota eta sigma)

+ Christ +
XP (chi ro)
XC (chi sigma) (first and last letter)
XPC (chi rho sigma)
XPS (chi rho sigma)

+ Jesus Christ +
IX
IC XC
IHS XPS
JX
JC XC
JHS XPS

The Greek letter sigma has been translated as both "C" and "S"
The Greek letter iota has been translated as both "I" and "J"

With love in Christ, Pal! Now, avoid trouble, you and all of your pals there - Kelly, Bigane, Miller, Ryan, Knight , Fiscelli, Panatera, Shea, and Smith - put that pack of Luckies up here on the desk Mr. Bigane! I'll see you after I'm done with Hickey here. -Say your prayers. Remember Mary Our Mother in All Things - you won't but try. Do your homework and everything will be Jake! Okay - here comes the Blessing! In the Name of the Father, . . .And the Son . . . And the Holy Ghost as was in the Beginning, is now and ever Shall be World Without End Amen! Stay off the Grass - Mr. Grogan just put down seed. The Luckies, Mr. Bigane! Pronto! The rest of you Lambs -Get!

Palm Sunday - it calls to mind many things.

Cardinal George - You are a Hell of a Priest!

Jesus! I gotta get to Mass! Clare! Get up! Hit the Shower! Yes, You are going! TS - it's Palm Sunday! Move!

Cardinal George is The Rock and Rockne is Andy Dick ND is Gutless!

Catholics are fair game to ridicule, scoff at and handcuff to child abuse. Catholics do it themselves, hell, I have.

However, I have never sullied my Faith outside of the Faithful. Notre Dame has shamed itself and every Catholic. Notre Dame thought that it was bullet proof and above Canon Law. President Jenkins believed that he had 'Finessed' -a great word that has lost a bit of its impact in our culture as a synonym for 'bullshitting' - the invitation and the event with enough fatuous grease that no one could object - An Honorary Degree for President Obama! Notre Dame will confer an Honorary Law Degree upon the most stridently Pro Abortion Man to ever serve as President of the United States.

Notre Dame did not 'merely invite' dialogue - that is code for bullshit BTW.

Notre Dame did not merely invite the President to campus.

Notre Dame did in fact affirm Abortion in all of its many manifestations by signalling to Abortion America that killing children is Okay!

Planned Parenthood's greatest achievement in its history is the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency and the nodding approval of people who should object to Abortion.

Parsing, Lying and Obfuscation are now called Nuance. Nuance made this all possible.

The school in South Bend, Indiana should be called the University of the Neutered Dome!

Catholics can and do criticize their Church - but not their faith, nor the faith of others.That is the domain of the Media.

Now, Cardinal George has rightly and strongly criticized the simpering Notre Dame President Jenkins, who cares more about the good opinion of Salon and Vanity Fair than he does about the John and the Synoptic Gospels. Jenkins thought 'Obama is the Top of the Pizza! The Kids Will Love Having Him Here! Abortion? No Biggie! Rockne would approve of Abortion and Stem Cell Research as long as the seatsIN Rockne Stadium are filled!'

The Media hates what Cardinal George did and the Media wants all the Nuanced voices to get into full agreement with Bill Maher and the Hip! Here are some of the comments on the NBC Blog reaction to Cardinal George's statement on Notre Dame:
Comments (12)
Sort by: Most Recent | Oldest

catholic Today at 2:45 AM FLAG COMMENT I went to a Catholic school. They were never involved in politics. Never talked about abortion. Of course they were French Canadian. I'm sorry, this Church is turning into a joke. I'm waiting for a condemnation of going into Iraq, or Guantanamo or how the US treated prisoners. Or the civilian deaths. Guess Aquinas isn't that catchy anymore. What the heck, lets be against abortion, keep wimmen out of the priesthood. Now that's a hot topic. Francis Cardinal George needs to go on a retreat. Until, oh, Advent. If he doesn't like the separation of Church and State we have in this country, maybe he can read the Render Unto Casear bit while he's waiting for his flight out of the country. Someplace that doesn't have the Internet. So he won't have to be such a Pharisee about ND. ... MORE > joey D Saturday, Apr 4 at 12:47 AM FLAG COMMENT This guy is a joke... why doesn't he address the PRIESTS that have SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ALL OF THESE YOUNG MALE CHILDREN over the years... it is embarrassing to say that I am a Catholic.. I do not even acknowledge it any more..This guy is a joke... why doesn't he address the PRIESTS that have SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ALL OF THESE YOUNG MALE CHILDREN over the years... it is embarrassing to say that I am a Catholic.. I do not even acknowledge it any more.. squarepegroundhole Friday, Apr 3 at 11:16 PM FLAG COMMENT IT IS a crime to kill. IT IS a crime to enter the USA illegally. IT IS a crime to molest boys.IT IS a crime to kill. IT IS a crime to enter the USA illegally. IT IS a crime to molest boys. Steve Friday, Apr 3 at 10:36 PM FLAG COMMENT The Cardinal has every right to speak his mind on this, and I don't think it's a violation of church and state, but why did he only talk about innocent lives? I believe that the offical Catholic teaching is that capitol punishment is also wrong. Would the Cardinal have been as upset if George Bush or Dick Cheny were asked to speak? They actually have the blood of innocents on their hands after invading Iraq based on erroneous or fictious information. ... MORE > George Sucks Friday, Apr 3 at 8:11 PM FLAG COMMENT Isn't this guy violating IRS laws by being a non-profit but advocating for or against a specific politician? Next time I get a letter from the Cardinal asking for money its going in the trash. Thanks a lot for giving catholics a bad name Isn't this guy violating IRS laws by being a non-profit but advocating for or against a specific politician? Next time I get a letter from the Cardinal asking for money its going in the trash. Thanks a lot for giving catholics a bad name

Nice and Nuanced there kids.

These are Hip, Young and Happening People with no moral compass other than Popular Culture - they get news from the Daily Show and react to TV Coverage.

Nope, Catholics stand for somethimg - We call it the Nicene Creed that we say each Sunday at Mass after the reading of the Gospel.

. . .Et in Spíritum Sanctum, Dóminum et vivificántem:
qui ex Patre Filióque procédit.
Qui cum Patre et Fílio simul adorátur et conglorificátur:
qui locútus est per prophétas.
Et unam, sanctam, cathólicam et apostólicam Ecclésiam.
Confíteor unum baptísma in remissiónem peccatorum.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
et vitam ventúri sæculi. Amen

Here's the above in HBO standard English -

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Now, the One Holy catholic and apostolic Church holds that ALL Human Life begins at Conception. That's when the rubber does not meet the road.

When is an abortion Okay? It's not. Well about about Rape? Nope. What about Incest? Nope. What about I did not mean to put a duck in her oven? Nope.

No Abortion. No how. Planned Parenthood owns Barack Obama and Barack Obama was elected the President the United States. Barack Obama is the Abortion President - more than Carter, More than Reagan, More than any President invited to Notre Dame.

Notre Dame is gutless. If you stand for nothing, you fall for anything. Notre Dame is no more different than the Media, HBO, Bill Maher. or Planned Parenthood.

Notre Dame Alumni are not happy with Father Jenkins. Who is? Knute Rockne is now played by Andy Dick*.

Francis Cardinal George is a Rock!


* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Dick

The Four Lads -Live At G20!

Silvio, Taro, Barry, and Andy! The Four Lads* Wow-ed the Gang at the Gee Twenty! G20! Recorded On and By BBC World Service!

This great mix of hits can be yours for Trillions of Dollars - still accepting US Currency! Hurry Though - this offer ends soon!


Side A

The mocking bird
Herman and the boys sing
Istanbul
The bus stop song
Gilly Gilly ossenfeffer katzenellen
There's only one of you

Side B

Enchanted Island
Moments to remember
Who needs you
No , not much!
Down by the river side
Put a light in the window


* AKA - The Trouser Snake Family Singers!

Illinois's Indicted All Stars - Universally Great Hair!

The Chicago Tribune captured the true nature of the Federal Prosecutors' Targeted Indictees!

They each and every one of them has absolutley magnificent hair!

Why SEIU's Progress Illinois Picked PZ Meyers, A Bigot, to Smear Congressman Shimkus

Nothing must be held sacred. Question everything. God is not great, Jesus is not your lord, you are not disciples of any charismatic prophet. You are all human beings who must make your way through your life by thinking and learning, and you have the job of advancing humanity's knowledge by winnowing out the errors of past generations and finding deeper understanding of reality. You will not find wisdom in rituals and sacraments and dogma, which build only self-satisfied ignorance, but you can find truth by looking at your world with fresh eyes and a questioning mind. PZ Meyers

That's PZ Meyers - getting hip with the kids who have to take his class. He really does look like a four star jerk-off.

SEIU hired the kids of Progressive Privilege - e.g. Josh Kalven is the son of Jaimie Kalven a Hyde Park Brahmin and Pan-Activist - to really get a radical roux going in the Gumbo that is Illinois Democratic politics.

Traditional Democrats - smart and hard-working people - find themselves in the audience forced to cheer the Leftist bilge from the Cheering sections: bloggers and nuanced Democratic Party spin-medics. Kind of like baby Axelrods.

The new Nuance - requires spitters and whiners to fill the air-waves ( remember Milt Rosenberg's Show during the POTUS Campaign?) and troll all over the Blogoshere. The Nuance has journalists in the vest pocket already.

Progress Illinois is driven by humorless and arrogant young kids and subsidized with Union Dues paid by SEIU members who are not well-represented by that Monster PAC that masquerades as Labor Union - in my opinion. Here's Young Master Kalven's use of PZ Meyers with Dues Paying Memebership Money going to Young Master Kalven:

Biologist Smacks Down Shimkus Straw Man
by Josh Kalven on March 30, 2009 - 12:40pm

Late on Friday, we posted some video of GOP Rep. John Shimkus' ridiculous remarks at a Capitol Hill climate change hearing last week. In the days since, the two clips have been burning up the internet. They provoked great responses from Think Progress, Matt Yglesias, and The Washington Monthly. But the best rebuttal has to come from University of Minnesota-Morris biologist PZ Myers (pictured right) on the blog Pharyngula. Here he is on Shimkus' contention that capping CO2 emissions could have the unintended consequence of "taking away plant food" and "doing just the opposite of what the people who want to save the world are saying":

They were part of an orchestrated effort to smear Illinois Representative John Shimkus (R.IL 19th District - Central Illinois - Coal Country) - hell, until the soul-patch commandos got all over John Shimkus, I never gave the poor man a second thought.

Now, I really, really admire the guy. He was attacked for debunking the Cap and Trade Doctrine* which I believe to be a foolish and even stupid policy especially in the current economy - it will destroy the very weak Illinois Coal Industry.

In order to 'GET' Shimkus the beauties at Progress Illinois trotted out a biology teacher from Minnesota who hates all religion and got to be a loud mouth critic of GW Bush over Intelligent Design and etc. PZ Meyers is a nerdy little twerp who asked his students to sneak out a consecrated communion wafer.

Catholics ( Full disclosure I is one) believe God is present in the Consecrated Wafer as PZ calls it - Transubstantiation -His ( Christ's) body and blood are truly contained in the sacrament of the altar under the forms of bread and wine, the bread and wine having been transubstantiated, by God's power, into his body and blood.

PZ Meyers wanted a student to desecrate the Eucharist. He did not order his students to desecrate the Koran, like a heroic and very dead Danish film-maker happened to do, because in PC America PZ Meyers can desecrate the Eucharist of Catholics. Catholics are targeted by the hip - Bill Maher, HBO, MSNBC and the failing Chicago newspapers.

Catholics are anti-abortion, and against Gay Marriage and against Promiscuity in general. Hollywood needs all of the above. Big money.

The Pope and the Bishops can be mocked for speaking out on Catholic Doctrine. So can critics of Cap and Trade.

PZ Meyers is a cowardly, sad, over paid, but employed, self-absorbed punk. He is the perfect model of the American Progressive - secularists, hypocritical, and loud.

SEIU picked a plum with PZ Meyers.



*A central authority (usually a government or international body) sets a limit or cap on the amount of a pollutant that can be emitted. Companies or other groups are issued emission permits and are required to hold an equivalent number of allowances (or credits) which represent the right to emit a specific amount. The total amount of allowances and credits cannot exceed the cap, limiting total emissions to that level. Companies that need to increase their emission allowance must buy credits from those who pollute less. The transfer of allowances is referred to as a trade. In effect, the buyer is paying a charge for polluting, while the seller is being rewarded for having reduced emissions by more than was needed. Thus, in theory, those that can easily reduce emissions most cheaply will do so, achieving the pollution reduction at the lowest possible cost to society.

Illinois Violates No Smoking Ban - 'Oh Fitz! Ohhh Fitzy, Was It Good For You?'

Having been had for One Full and Change (1.8) Blagojevich Gubernatorial Terms*, a sore State of Illinois turned over to the powerful, yet strangely comforting limbs of Federal Law in Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald.

The 75 Page Indictment of Rod Blagojevich announced near meal time at Federal Metropolitan Correction Center was a thrust of powerful Government for a people needy and yieldy.

Illinois is languishing in a State of Ecstacy!~ Blowing Smoke Rings in the Air! Penny for your Thoughts,Fitzy?

This Federal indictment mounts the top of a steady stream of predictions made by this blogger that ranks right up there with Good Old Captain Edward J.Smith who announced to all and sundry on the bridge of HSS Titanic -'Let's see what this Baby Can Do! Open 'er Up!' -Go,Hickey !- McCain's The Guy! - Ryan Wont Do Time!s - Get a Balloon Adjustable Mortgage for Each of the Kids!

Yep!

Thanks Fitzy! I'll pass.


*

Blagojevich is heard on tape asking an aide if the $8 million could be withheld if the executive failed to pay.

Blagojevich called the impeachment case against him a witch hunt and refused to answer question from lawmakers or testify about details of the criminal investigation.

Instead, as the state Senate heard the evidence against him, the governor made the rounds of New York talk shows, proclaiming his innocence.

Ousted from office and replaced by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn (D), Blagojevich signed a book deal. As recently as last week, he hosted a Chicago radio show to say that he was "hijacked" from office by his political foes.

Progress Illinois 'Scores' Anti-Catholic Bigot PZ Myers to Attack Congressman Shimkus

Our Bearded Clam-anti-Catholic Bigot* PZ Myers! Mollusks Love Attention!

Can anyone out there score me some consecrated communion wafers? There's no way I can personally get them -- my local churches have stakes prepared for me, I'm sure -- but if any of you would be willing to do what it takes to get me some, or even one, and mail it to me, I'll show you sacrilege, gladly, and with much fanfare. I won't be tempted to hold it hostage (no, not even if I have a choice between returning the Eucharist and watching Bill Donohue kick the pope in the balls, which would apparently be a more humane act than desecrating a goddamned cracker), but will instead treat it with profound disrespect and heinous cracker abuse, all photographed and presented here on the web. I shall do so joyfully and with laughter in my heart. If you can smuggle some out from under the armed guards and grim nuns hovering over your local communion ceremony, just write to me and I'll send you my home address.

PZ Myers

Progress Illinois is an SEIU Progranda Tool and it uses other Tools - Tools Like PZ Myers who is tenured Biology Teacher in Minnesota.

CLICK PZ - (Pretty Zygote ?) Myers' Anti-Catholic Spew. In a world where a geek like this is safe, because Veterans like John Shimkus fought to protect weak and stupid people as well as good productive Americans, Progress Illinois will pay money to attack the protector. Go figure.

PZ Meyers is a coward - a sad little man with a pay check. God Bless Him!

The guy is a clown, but Progress Illinois is a huge tent.

When John Shimkus debunked Cap and Trade - one of the wheels about to fall off the Obama Economic agenda and one that will consign President Obama to the Kid's Table at the next G20 Summit - if he gets invited back - the idiot industry - MSNBC and SEIU e.g. went to war on Congressman John Shimkus (R.IL) from Central Illinois' Coal Country.

Progress Illinois touted this infamous anti-Catholic bigot to debunk Shimkus?

SEIU is paying you clowns with working people's Union Dues?

*http://progressillinois.com/2009/3/30/biologist-rebuts-shimkus-strawman

Congressman Shimkus Gets A Bum Rap from Local Paper

State Journal-Register Bernard Schoenberg sucks up to SEIU's Progress Illinois and MSNBC's Bloated Bathtub Resident Keith Olbermann instead of doing his job.

It may seem out of character for Republican U.S. Rep. JOHN SHIMKUS, R-Collinsville, to help disgraced former Democratic Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH with anything — but he did.

Yes, during a lull in the nationwide laugh-at-Blagojevich telethon, Shimkus admirably filled in as the Illinois politician caught in the media crosshairs, thanks to comments he made about global warming and God’s will during a U.S. House subcommittee hearing last week.

The discussion led to Shimkus “winning” the title of “worst person in the world” Tuesday night from Keith Olbermann of MSNBC.

And a number of Web sites, including www.progressillinois.com, sponsored by the Illinois State Council of the Service Employees International Union, have posted video of the discussion, which took place at the March 25 hearing of the U.S. House subcommittee on energy and environment of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Congressman John Shimkus is protecting his constituents from an idiotic economic strategy that will only increase the unemployed of Illinois and further diminish the Illinois Coal Industry -Cap and Trade is Stupid - It's The Economy!

President Obama is beholden to so many different radical leftist PACs that he is between a Poop and Sneeze.

Enviromentalists, Secularists, SEIU Sandinistas? Who can I turn to when No Body Needs Me?

Congressman Shimkus (R,IL) defends Illinois Coal and Illinois Taxpayers and gets attacked by SEIU and the MSNBC Tool Shed.

So what does State Journal and Register Ink-slinger Bernard Schoenberg do?

Well, I'll tell you what he did not do!

Schoenberg did not call Bob Gardiner**, President of ICG (Coal)- in Williamsville, IL , or Andrew Carter of Knight Hawk Coal inPercy, IL, or Mr. Van Villines of S-Coal Company in Elkville. That would be the Illinois Coal Producers, Bernard. That is on whom Cap and Trade would impact*.

So what does State Journal and Register Ink-slinger Bernard Schoenberg do?

He does a cut-and - paste Love Note of Progress Illinois the SEIU Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and America's # 1 Juice Bag Keith Olbermann' vile nonsense, like a 3rd grade girl staring at a poster of the Jonas Brothers.

Way to suck up, Bernard!

Congressman Shimkus, nice work for Illinois and America!

*http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/NR/rdonlyres/B774E1B9-104C-42D0-9757-DFB58E9E4714/0/IndustryContacts080527.pdf

Like Plump Girls Spurned by Colin Farrell and Waiting at Applebee's Chicago Media Will Wait and Wait for Fitzy to Indict Blago!

I think that maybe News Media Chicago will be waiting outside the offices of Patrick Fitzgerald like a homely fat girl waiting at Applebee's for the arrival of Colin Farrell ( 'He called and said he wanted to meet a nice normal girl and he had a Dublin Accent! He Said Brilliant and Shite alot!') Yep, Fitzy might just be a 'Flat-Out Villain.' A Cad! A Bounder!

Following the spurning, some in the News Media might get desperate and find solace in Salty Snack Piles and gallon flagons of Pop. Be positive! Eat Healthy.

ABC 7 had ordered a booth and a Nacho Platter with extra cheese and a 40 oz. Diet Coke.

By Ravi BaichwalApril 1, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- An indictment charging former Governor Rod Blagojevich with corruption is expected as early as Thursday.
The indictment would replace a complaint charging Blagojevich with crimes including an effort to sell President Obama's former U.S. Senate seat.
The buzz around the federal courts is that with a deadline looming, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald will hand up an indictment against the former governor.. . . If there's an indictment Blagojevich and his co-accused from December 9, former chief of staff John Harris, would be notified electronically. They wouldn't have to go to court until an arraignment date is set on any new charges.
Any new defendants will be given the . . . he's not? . . .but I thought . . .(sniff). . .

Ohhhhhh Ravi, (sniff) he's cruel.

Blago! Here's the TV Line-up (sorry, that was cruel) for Tonight April 2, 2008 -Unless Fitzy Changed Your Plans.

'I'm Rod Blagojevich - and I'm here to sit on your porch with my legs covering a few more steps than a normal guy and have your Towhead wondering if I am just another of his Mom's 'Uncles' or really the Governor of the People! Hey this MILF is way better than the Tons o' Blubber squeezing me out of that coach on the View~'


I think former Governor and WLS Talk Apprentice Rod Blagojevich just may be home tonight to enjoy the fine Television Programing from WOW Cable - Assuming that Rod and Patty enjoy and pay for WOW Cable.

I think that maybe News Media Chicago will be waiting outside the offices of Ptraick Fitzegerald like a homely fat girl waiting at Appleby's for the arrival of Colin Farrell ( 'He called and said he wanted to meet a nice normal girl and he had a Dublin Accent! He Said Brilliant and Shite alot!') Yep, Fitzy's might be a 'Flat-Out Villain.'

This indictment runs out on April 7th -

Here's tonight's view, Rod!

7:00pm 8:00pm
2
WBBM Survivor: Tocantins---The Brazilian Highlands (CC) >CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV14 (CC)
3
WFLD Bones TV14 (CC) Hell s Kitchen TV14 (CC)
5
WMAQ ER Retrospective TV14 (CC) >ER TV14 (CC)
6
THE U Tyler Perry s House of Payne TVPG (CC) Tyler Perry s House of Payne TVPG (CC) Bernie Mac Show TVPG (CC) Bernie Mac Show (CC)
7
WLS In the Motherhood TVPG (CC) Samantha Who? TVPG (CC) >Grey s Anatomy Repeat TV14 (CC)
8
WPWR Beauty Shop TV14 (CC)
9
WGN Smallville TVPG (CC) Supernatural (CC)
11
WTTW Chicago Tonight (CC) >Nova TVG (CC) DVS HDTV
29
USA House TV14 (CC) HDTV House TV14 (CC) HDTV
30
LIFE Will & Grace TV14 (CC) Will & Grace TV14 (CC) >Ghost (CC)
31
TNT >NBA Basketball (CC) HDTV
32
TBS Friends TVPG (CC) HDTV Friends TVPG (CC) HDTV >Happy Gilmore TVPG (CC) HDTV
33
ESPN College Basketball Skills Competition (CC) HDTV
34
ESPN2 World s Strongest Man Competition (CC) HDTV World s Strongest Man Competition (CC) HDTV >MLS Soccer (CC) HDTV
35
ESPNC Classic MLB Baseball (CC)
38
ABCFAM Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed TVPG (CC)
39
COMEDY Daily Show With Jon Stewart Repeat TV14 (CC) Colbert Report Repeat TV14 (CC) Futurama TVPG (CC) South Park TVMA (CC)
40
AMC >It s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World TVPG
43
TCM The Corsican Brothers TVG
44
DISNEY My Date With the President s Daughter TVG (CC) As the Bell Rings TVG (CC) Phineas and Ferb TVG (CC)
45
SCI FI Highlander TV14 (CC) HDTV >Highlander: The Source (CC) HDTV
46
A&E First 48 TV14 (CC) HDTV First 48 TV14 (CC) HDTV
47
HIST Gangland TV14 (CC) Gangland TV14 (CC)
48
DSC The Detonators TVPG (CC) Destroyed in Seconds TV14 (CC) Destroyed in Seconds TV14 (CC)
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CNN Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull (CC) HDTV Larry King Live (CC) HDTV
51
HLN Nancy Grace (CC) Lou Dobbs Tonight (CC)
52
MSNBC Countdown With Keith Olbermann (CC) Rachel Maddow Show (CC)
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ANIMAL When Animals Strike 2 TV14 (CC) When Animals Strike 3 TV14 (CC)
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HGTV Property Virgins TVG (CC) Pure Design (CC) House Hunters TVG (CC) House Hunters TVG (CC)
56
DISXD 57
SPK UFC Unleashed TVPG (CC) >TNA Impact! (CC) HDTV
59
FNC O Reilly Factor (CC) Hannity (CC)
60
E! Victoria Silvstedt: My Perfect Life TVPG Girls Next Door (CC) True Hollywood Story TVPG (CC)
62
TWC 63
TLC Overhaulin TVG (CC) David Blaine: Street Magic TVPG (CC)
64
TOON Chowder TVY7 (CC) Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack TVY7 (CC) 6teen TVPG (CC) Total Drama Island TVPG (CC)
65
CSN >MLB Baseball (CC)
66
FX <>Troy TV14 (CC)
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TVLAND Andy Griffith Show TVG (CC) Andy Griffith Show TVG (CC) Andy Griffith Show TVG (CC) Andy Griffith Show TVG (CC)
68
DHC My Shocking Story TVG (CC) X-Weighted TVPG (CC)
69
FOOD Good Eats TVG (CC) Good Eats TVG (CC) Iron Chef America TVG (CC)
81
CMT Extreme Makeover: Home Edition TVPG (CC) Extreme Makeover: Home Edition TVPG (CC)

Blago may run-out the clock

Yes indeed, I believe that Patrick Fitzgerald - might - might mind you - have been tapped on the Federal shoulder, whispered into the prosecutorial, by an Iago attached to the newly elected White House Resident.

Soto Voce - ‘Fitzy, here’s a Bigg-un! Blago is selling the Senate Seat! Get him into the Green Room! Exit Stage Left! You can indict Him Later! The Guy can not Shut-up! He’s as Dumb as a City Hall manager - you know them ‘Hey Loooook, it’ll be okay the Guy won’t forget you! Trust Him!” See? Put a Bag over Blago Fitzy! Hope and Change!’

Here’s what the G told us in December when Blagomania got launched:

“First of all, there’s not an indictment, realize. It’s a complaint. So I don’t want people to understand it’s an indictment. We filed a criminal complaint.”
Pat Fitzgerald Dec 9, 2008

“The criminal complaint is a charging document that is supported by the affidavit of a law enforcement agent that is intended to set forth and establish probable cause and that probable cause can be tested in a preliminary hearing,” Randall Samborn 2008

“Governor Blagojevich has been arrested in the middle of what we can only describe as a political corruption crime spree. We acted to stop that crime spree,” Pat Fitzgerald 2008

Time for John Shimkus to Retire Dick Durbin!

John Shimkus has every crack-pot loudmouth in Illinois and beyond Blagoland calling for his scalp - the MSNBC Doublemint Twins - Butch Maddow and Tubs Olbermann - the SEIU Internet Comic Book :Progress Illinois -to name but a few. i.e. Keith Olbermann also named Shimkus last night's "Worst Person In The World" (the relevant section begins at the 3:15 mark): . . .During her recurring "GOP In Exile" segment, Rachel Maddow took aim at the downstate Republican's assertion that we are a "carbon-starved planet" . . .et . . .

In recent days, we at Progress Illinois and others in the left blogosphere have been slamming Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) for recent comments illustrating his climate change skepticism. So you can only imagine our embarassment after coming across this breaking news from the Christian Science Monitor:

In an unprecedented move Wednesday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee rescinded the Peace Prize it awarded in 2007 to former US vice president Al Gore and the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, amid overwhelming evidence that global warming is an elaborate hoax cooked up by Mr. Gore.

We hope Rep. Shimkus accepts our deepest apologies

Yack, Yuck! That was for April Fools - they're only Funnin' - what a palm of pansies that floral Bouquet at Progress Illinois do be!

That is all to the good for me! This guy has just got to be Okay! When Progressives started to bad mouth Paul Vallas during his final days as CPS Chief - I knew that this was just the guy to be Illinois Governor. However, SEIU and the Boiled Beet Progressives of Illinois were Just Mad! Mad I tell You! for Blago!

We got Blago - didn't we Cupcakes? Progressives put Blago into Office. Way to go!

If Progressives detest John Shimkus, then this must be the man to rid Illinois of Dithering Dick Durbin! Or . . . take the seat away from that Tombstone of a Public Servant - the Junior U.S. Senator from Illinois the Guy Dick Durbin . . .what did he say about him? Give it a minute.

John Shimkus* has a Marquette Park name and 3rd District World View ( Pro-Real Labor; Pro-Life; Pro America) but comes from downstate Illinois - just like Dick Durbin.

Senator Dick Durbin is Joe Biden with the personality of a dial tone.

Senator Durbin speaks his mind. I defend Durbin's right to his opinion and wholly value his complete inability to articulate whatever the hell that might be.

John Shimkus is a Loogan ( Lithuanian) Lutheran (Catholic without Controversy) and a Republican ( 19th Ward Democrat without Obligations). I can work for this guy.


John Shimkus - You are Okay!

*The federal government has no business bailing out private sector companies, as we began doing last year. I voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) or $700 billion Wall Street bailout.


Had we not bailed AIG out to the tune of $170 billion, we wouldn't have to worry about how much AIG employees get paid or $165 million in bonuses to people in the very unit of the company that caused these financial problems. But since the U.S. government now owns 80 percent of this company, we are compelled to make sure our tax dollars are protected.


Another major problem was additional government intervention in the stimulus bill, which I also voted against. Had the Democrat leadership given us proper time to read the bill, we would not be in the situation we are today. Democrats themselves admit they did not read the stimulus bill. And if we had not rushed it through, I am positive there would have been a prohibition against bonuses for companies receiving federal bailout assistance.


It is unfortunate that we didn't have that opportunity. It is unfortunate that the Treasury Department intervened through Sen. Dodd. It is unfortunate that we continue to spend tax dollars on buying private companies.
Congressman John Shimkus

Get Us Some O' That Reee - Form! 'N Moral Rectitude!

Pop-eyed and Passive Aggressively Grinning Carol Marin squirts out another dictum to everyone!

"Let's not let lawmakers leave Springfield in May without casting their votes for real, holistic reform."

Holistic - as coined by Apartheid Daddy Jan Smuts -"The tendency in nature to form wholes that are greater than the sum of the parts through creative evolution."

You know 'thinking outside the Box!' Like going to a doctor when you have a boil on your arm and he attaches a power hose to your rectum! 'This may cause some discomfort but it is holistic! you know -ayurveda, chiropractic, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, Unani and reflexology therapies!'

Well Carol is worried about that there REEform for our State and Local GUV- Mints.

Governor Pat 'Lawnmower' Quinn* an Old Timey REE-former is on it!


Quinn's Staff: The reason he's pullin' our pants down.
Quinn's Staff: Gonna paddle a little behind.
Quinn's Staff: Ain't gonna paddle it - gonna kick it, real hard.
Quinn's Staff: No, I believe he's gonna paddle it.
Quinn's Staff: I don't believe that's a proper characterization.
Quinn's Staff: Well, that's how I'd characterize it.
Quinn's Staff: I believe it's more of a kickin' sitcheyation.


Gov. Pat Quinn: I'll press your flesh, you dimwitted sumbitch! You don't tell your pappy how to court the electorate. We ain't one-at-a-timin' here. We're MASS communicating!


Sara Feigenholz: We could hire our own midget, even shorter than his. Mike Quigley!
Quinn: Wouldn't we look like a bunch of Johnny-come-latelies, bragging on our own midget, doesn't matter how stumpy. He's Goin' to D.C. Anyhoo!


Pat Quinn: Moral fibre? I invented moral fibre! Patrick Tiberius 'Lawnmower' Quinn was displaying rectitude and high-mindedness when that egghead you work for was still messing his drawers!

Moral Fibre N' Moral Rectitude On Demand! Demand Some of Whole Heeping Helpin' Full Today! Tell Carol Sent You! Don't Wait For Change!

* http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/quotes