ExPungement Attorney Tamara Holder Responds to My Blog

I am Tamara Holder and while I respect your opinion of me, your blog is misleading.

Let me correct you in saying that an expungement does NOT clear criminal records of convicted felons. An expungement is for someone who has no convictions whatsoever. This person has arrests or non-convictions.

Also, let me correct you in saying that I have fought for answers from Chicago Police & Jody Weis for the family of slain Chicago Police officer Jose Vazquez who was gunned down outside of his home just over 2 years ago. We are all waiting for some answers on who killed this wonderful husband/brother/son.

So, as we are all entitled to our own opinions, I appreciate the opportunity to clarify your blog.

And I welcome a meeting with you at any time. It's not polite to judge people who you do not know.

11:24 PM


Thanks for the clarification Ms. Holder. As I am just a layman and certainly no Captain of the Bar, my opinions are developed through experience and study. Your activism and notoriety helped gave shape and dimension to my simple point of view. Thus:( http://www.wethepeoplemedia.org/Archive/2008_Fall/Articles/HaroldIckes_Fall08.html)

The Progress Illinois piece and the subsequent Mary Mitchell rant against the Illinois State Police seemed to indicate that 'expungement' in fact was for criminally convicted felons and miscreants who had been good for a couple of years:

Mary Mitchell:

Expungements and the sealing of criminal records of people with low-level felony or misdemeanor arrests or convictions were viewed as critical to urban communities where unemployment figures were double-digits long before the country sank into a steep recession.

Chicago Sun Times

State Rep. Constance Howard (D-Chicago) and Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester) have introduced HB 3961, which seeks to clarify the expungement process laid out in the Criminal Identification Act. The bill sets a 60-day timetable for filing a response to relevant court-orders. It would also heighten oversight of the ISP decisions by requiring the agency to generate additional reports for the Governor, General Assembly, Attorney General’s office, and the Illinois State Appellate Defender’s office to review.

Meanwhile, Judge Paul Biebel, head of the Criminal Division of the Cook County Circuit Court -- whose orders were ignored by ISP roughly 13 percent of the time in 2007 alone -- has taken on the job of sorting this mess out. Madigan is also working with a team of pro-bono attorneys -- from the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, the Chicago Legal Clinic-Austin Circle Law Center, and the Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic -- to make sure the situation is rectified.

Angela Caputo Progress Illinois



An interview by Jaqueline Thompson)

I received an opportunity to interview Tamara Holder, the lawyer provided by Jackson and the Rainbow Push Coalition for residents who were caught in the web of new police tactics for people control.

Residents' Journal: Has there been a Class Action Suit filed on behalf of the residents of Harold Ickes concerning police harassment with contact cards and trespassing?

Tamara Holder: Yes. The suit was filed for many based on the contact cards, only after the trespass cases had been solved and thrown out of court. About five more people have trespassing cases pending in court and once they are done, there will be a separate class action suit filed for them. ( emphasis my own)

RJ: Can you tell from your experience in court with the residents whether or not the City is sympathetic or apathetic about the residents’ complaints?

TH: I think they are disinterested in the issue because the CPD is part of the City of Chicago and an extension of it. If they were sympathetic, they would make the officers cease and dismiss these practices.
RJ: It is a known fact that there are a lot of homeless people in and around Ickes and sometimes at night they are raided whilst sleeping in the halls and are arrested for it. What are your feelings about the City’s role in servicing the homeless population? Do you know if the City addresses the situation in any way?

TH: The city’s condo housing has protection from illegal entry by guards at the front doors. You can’t get in without a key or a key card. The residents of public housing should be protected from strangers or non-residents too. They have just as much right as others. Homeless people need homes. Chicago has made no provisions for them. Public housing is sort of a back door shelter. Anybody can come in, defecate, urinate, vomit and trash the place.

RJ: Are you in touch with clients of other developments for the same or similar incidents of harassment, trespassing or arrests?

TH: No. I only know that the Cabrini Green development has a community activist group that is addressing resident treatment from CPD.

For more on Tamara Holder and Expungements:

http://www.tamaraholder.com/

Cops Face Grenades - Real and Fake - Journalists are Not Worried.

Police officers face mortal danger every day. They signed up for that.

They must also deal with a Media, law suit lawyers and elected officials.

Now they are facing hand grenades. This moring it was reported that a fake grenade was tossed at police officers in Roseland.

CHICAGO - Chicago police say they have been questioning a man who reportedly tossed a fake grenade during a foot chase in the Roseland neighborhood on the city's far South Side.

The incident occurred late Sunday morning when officers responded to a call of a person with a gun near East 107th Street and South Wentworth Avenue. Police say the officers located the suspect, who attempted to flee on foot.

During the chase, the suspect reportedly tossed what appeared to be a grenade. Officers notified the Chicago Fire Department and the police Bomb & Arson Section and then captured the suspect, police said. No gun was ever found on the man.

Bomb & Arson investigators determined the thrown object was a fake and was not a threat

What then, Mr. NewsHound, is a Threat? The threat of a grenade is real Agenda Stooge Reporters are Unreal

California Gunman Kills Four Cops While Violating Parole - Save All the Expungement Hypocrisy!

Dear God - more cops killed. The idiots in Illinois are getting all Progressive to put money in Expungment Attorney Tamara Holder's purse. She is a rising star in the scum-bag legal community - watch out G. Flint Taylor and Jon Loevy! Holder trolls for Criminals in violence racked housing projects and in the Sun Times. Holder was part of Jesse Jackson's Sleepover resulting from the drug-pinch riots at the Harold Ickes Homes a while back.

Now Tamara has Lefty journalists and Chicago's leading race-baiter at the Sun Times panning for gold on her Expungement Claim.

In California three cops were murdered by a parole violater and another officer clings to life.

Man violates parole, kills three cops in California


AP, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Monday, Mar 23, 2009, Page 7
A man wanted for violating his parole killed three police officers and gravely wounded another in two shootings on Saturday, the first after a routine traffic stop and the second after a massive manhunt ended in gunfire, authorities said.

The gunman was also killed.

The violence began on Saturday afternoon when two officers stopped a Buick sedan in Oakland, California, police spokesman Jeff Thomason said. The driver opened fire, killing one officer and seriously wounding the second.

The gunman then fled on foot, police said, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of Oakland police, California Highway Patrol officers and Alameda County sheriff deputies. Streets were roped off and an entire area of east Oakland closed to traffic.

About two-and-a-half hours later, officers, acting on an anonymous tip, found the suspect barricaded inside an apartment building, police said.

Police said the gunman fired an assault rifle at officers who came into the building to arrest him. Two members of the SWAT team were killed and a third was grazed by a bullet, police said.

Acting Oakland police chief Howard Jordan said police returned fire, killing a man they identified as 26-year-old Lovelle Mixon of Oakland.

The slain officers were identified as Sergeant Mark Dunakin, 40, who was killed at the first shooting, and sergeants Ervin Romans, 43, and Daniel Sakai, 35, who were killed at the second location.

Officer John Hege, 41, was in serious condition.

Somber officers at the police station consoled each other.

“This is probably one of the worst incidents that has ever taken place in this history of the Oakland police department,” Thomason said.

“[Mixon] was on parole and he had a warrant out for his arrest for violating that parole. And he was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon,” Oakland police Deputy Chief Jeffery Israel said.

People lingered at the scene of the first shooting. About 20 bystanders taunted police.

Tension between police and the community has risen since the fatal shooting of unarmed 22-year-old Oscar Grant by a transit police officer at an Oakland train station on Jan. 1.

This past week Pop Eyed Racist and unoriginal thinker, Mary Mitchell reacting to other persons' journalism and reports and Leftist STNG Barista Angela Caputo) shouted out this:

Because African Americans account for about 61 percent of Illinois parolees, it is the group most impacted by the arrogance of this state agency.

So, it is quite ironic that it was black community leaders who publicly supported Blagojevich during the corruption scandal that jettisoned him from office.

The failure of the Illinois State Police to expunge and seal criminal records when ordered to do so by a judge also has likely resulted in people who honestly thought they had complied with the law losing their jobs after a background check.

Also, since applying for an expungement costs $60 -- a fee that many applicants are hard-pressed to come by -- the state agency has effectively scammed these applicants when it refused to obey the judge's orders to seal or expunge the records.

Like I said, this is a mess.

One way to start unraveling it is to bring Trent before the legislative body to explain himself.

Maybe his department has been too tainted by Blagojevich's disdain for ex-offenders.

Or maybe, given an environment where no one seemed to have been in charge, Trent mistakenly thought he could play by his own rules.

Whatever the case, the agency is guilty of abusing its vast power to determine what is right from what is wrong.

The rush to expunge Criminal Records puts money in Expungment Tamara Holder's pockets, but it gets cops killed and endangers society. Tamara Holder pops up wherever Criminals in our community need more camouflage and cover. Expungment is a big help to career criminals.

God Bless all the families of the slain officers in California and here in Illinois as well.

'Sleek and Tres Chic' Catch Andrew Distel and Guitarist Daniel Bruce at Viands

Catch Jazz as it was meant to be performed by Vocal genius and horn man Andrew Distel and guitarist Daniel Bruce- Tonight at Viand Chicago:

Saturday March 21
Viand Restaurant
155 E. Ontario
6-9pm
no cover
312.255.8505

Andrew Distel-vocals/trumpet
Daniel Bruce-guitar

www.viandchicago.com

Click my post title for Andrew singing 'The Rest of Your Life'

Proposed IllInois ReProductive Rights Bill (HB 2354) Should Be Aborted !

Executive Chef and Aged Greek Pastry Arianna Huffington's Chicago Greasy Forceps ( spoons are too small) Diner - HuffPo-Chicago - serves up a huge plateful of abortion to hungry Progressives. Sous Chef Jesse Greenberg plates up gravy saturated helpings of aborted joints and innards to please the most discerning palates of folks who can not get enough of dead kids!

This is your destination for infanticide gustation! Get your tongues and choppers over and into a mouthful of Jesse Greenberg's plated L'Enfant ratatouille -

The bill does not require health care professionals who oppose abortion to perform abortion procedures. The bill states that health care facilities should "accommodate" their employees who object to women's reproductive health procedures and for health care facilities to "assist the patient" in obtaining the health care they desire in a "timely fashion." ( Notice the delicate and enchanting flavorings and garnishes that make this aborted mess a feast for the eyes and a savory Progressive Plateful!) . . .
This bill is completely consistent with both ensuring women get good reproductive health care access and making sure health care professionals are not put in a situation that violates their religious or moral beliefs. ( Tasty, Chef Jesse, Tasty!)
Furthermore, for opponents of the bill that dislike teaching sex education in public schools, this bill does not remove a parent's right to pull their kids from sex education classes whenever they want.

( Jesse! Remove and Pull! That Ankle Biter's Plate Ready and I'm Bear-Hungry! Abort! Abort!)

Jesse makes a roue-roux with the gallons of baby-blood that is sensational! It covers every dish! He adds this Lagniappe, "Ironically, Cardinal George calls HB 2354 supporters "enemies of religion." How dare he violate others' personal health care choices by attempting to make those views state law? That's immoral and unjust.

This is a good bill. Make sure you let your legislators know you support it. Click on the Illinois Reproductive Health website to make it happen."

Jesse!!! Do I smell Placenta Polenta????? Laddle it up, there, Lad!

This will be great bill of fare, Chef Jesse! Eat them Critters! 'Suck the H'aids off!' - as my Tante says down on the Bayou Teche! Oooooooo - as Progressives fancy themselves as smart and desire eeveryone to perceive them as such - Jesse scoop out some of this - Cerveau L'Enfants!*


Arianna Huffington's skull popping and limb-rendering magic is at work here in Moss-back Chicago! With Sous Chef's Like Jesse Greenberg, Aborted Kids can be souped, stewed, smoked, roasted and plated 24/7 at this Greasy Forceps ( a spoon just won't cut it!) and eaten by Nuanced Eaters of Children!

My Review-Five Forceps for this Bloody Spot!

* Cerveau 'Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!' L'enfant's - Kid's Brains for Tiny Brained Progressives

Ingredients :

2 x Childs' brains
1 tsp Salt
1 x Onion studded with
1 x Clove
1 x Bay leaf
1 pch Thyme
4 x Peppercorns
1/8 cup Flour
1/4 cup Butter
6 slc Lemon thin slices
1 tbl Chopped parsley

Method :
Soak brains in cold water for 2 hours. Remove thin outer skin. Soak again in cold water for 3 hours.
Place brains in large saucepan. Cover with cold water. Add salt, onion studded with a clove, bay leaf, thyme, and peppercorns. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove brains and drain them.
Scallop brains. Dredge with flour. In large skillet, heat 1/8 cup butter. Add brains and cook for 10 minutes, or until well browned on all sides. Remove brains to heated serving dish and keep warm.
Meanwhile, in small skillet, heat remaining butter and cook for 5 minutes, or until butter is hazel brown. Pour over brains. Garnish with slices of lemon and sprinkle with parsley. Serve hot.
Serve with boiled potatoes.
Suggested Wine: A chilled dry white wine: Bordeaux Graves; etc.

Sheriff Tom Dart Ahead of Curve on Craigslist Child Prostitution and Exploitation

Photo of Tom Dart by Spencer Green


Following Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart's lead folks in New York and New Jersey are going after pimps and pornographers in Craigslist - the hip scratch sheet for Nuanced Perverts and Losers.

Police told CBS 2 HD on Friday that the couple used Craigslist to find clients for their bordello in the 'burbs.

Richard Salvatore and Rachel Grome are husband and wife -- now accused as pimp and prostitute.

They are a team that allegedly used the popular Web site to market services that involved illegal sex.

Cops said they hosted "Johns" at their townhouse in a quiet Rye Brook neighborhood.

"I feel like Craigslist has really brought 42nd Street and Times Square right into people's home," Rye Brook Police Chief Gregory Austin told CBS 2 HD.

Beyond the idiots at San Francisco Citizen and Illinois Political Rivals and Do-Nothings, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has landed a solid punch to Kiddie Pornographers and Pimps at Craigslist. The San Francisco prostitution industry is second only to Gay Lesbian Advocacy terrorism in getting out its message that 'Who's To Say What is Moral?'

Comes now career politician Tom Dart, who is using his elected position as Sheriff of Cook County to file a ridiculous lawsuit against craigslist over prostitution advertising. Did Chicago prostitutes use other kinds of media before the creation of craigslist? Why yes. And as a matter of fact, the Chicago Reader newspaper (a free weekly like the Bay Guardian and SF Weekly) is making money right now today with erotic services ads (as are the aforementioned Bay Guardian and SF Weekly, of course). Let’s take a look at a few of today’s ads sitting in newsboxes right outside the Sheriff’s office: Is Thomas Dart still promoting his craigslist boycott? Good luck with that and all. I mean, that stands a better chance of working than this lawsuit. I mean really, is Craig’s list “a source” of prostitution?

But why would this elected sheriff/lawyer want to go out of town to pick on cragslist? Perhaps he wins even if/when his lawsuit fails? Anyway, his press conference is starting now, noon Central Standard Time. Let’s give him a chance to make his case and pretend it has a ghost of a chance of succeeding.

http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2009/03/05/chicago-politician-tom-dart-vs-craigslist-frivolous-lawsuit-of-the-week/

Marl Konkol, one of the good guys at Chicago Sun Times wrote accurately on Tom Dart's assault on the Prostitution and Porn Propaganda Press at Craigslist:

"I am fed up. I am tired and this is going to stop," Dart said.

Dart filed a federal lawsuit Thursday asking a judge to force San Francisco-based Craigslist to eliminate the "erotic services" section of its Web site, where he said most prostitution ads are posted. The lawsuit also asks that Craigslist reimburse Cook County for the salaries of officers who investigate prostitution and human trafficking through the Web site -- a bill of more than $100,000.

"We're asking them to do what frankly they should have been doing all along -- stop facilitating prostitution. Stop being the largest source of prostitution in America," Dart said.

Since January 2007, sheriff's police have arrested 200 people on prostitution charges, juvenile pimping and human trafficking directly connected to Craigslist advertisements. Arrests have ranged from suburban soccer moms to heroin addicts to juveniles, some as young as 14.

A Craigslist spokeswoman said she has not seen Dart's complaint, but the company does cooperate with law enforcement. "Misuse of Craigslist to facilitate criminal activity is unacceptable, and we continue to work diligently to prevent it. Misuse of the site is exceptionally rare compared to how much the site is used for legal purposes," Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster said in a written statement.

Craigslist had reached an agreement in November with attorneys general in Connecticut, Illinois and other states that called for the company to crack down on prostitution ads.

Buckmaster said at the time that it would allow legitimate escort services to continue advertising, while discouraging illegal activity by requiring anyone posting "erotic services" ads to provide a working phone number and pay a fee with a valid credit card.

Dart said that didn't change a thing.

A 19-year-old woman recently arrested during a Craigslist prostitution sting told reporters she wound up in a hotel room soliciting sex from an undercover officer after trying to break into modeling in response to an Internet ad. The woman, whose pimp named her "Honey," was being sold for sex on Craigslist for $300 an hour. When the undercover officer met her at a south suburban hotel, he could tell she was a victim, Lt. Michael Anton said. "She was very nervous. You could tell she hadn't done that before," he said.

"Honey," who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that was her first time and she felt lucky police arrested her.

Kiddie Porn, Child Prostitution, and White Slavery are only three of the glaring crimes against humanity related to 'the victimless crime of Prostitution. The 'Who's To Say?' Progressive Doctrine that leeches to every aspect of popular culture leavens the bread that Craigslist tosses on the scum of its pond.

Tom Dart has taken the lead and other communities have followed.

Tom Dart was a huge help to President Barack Obama when they were in the Illinois Senate together. President Obama was placed on the Magic Carpet by many of Craigslist defenders - those 'Who's To Say' Boiled Beet Progressives.

Tom Dart has taken the slow gradus up the political summit. President Obama talks to Jay Leno. Tom Dart speaks to Americans.

April 1st - Send a Tea Bag to D.C. Hey, I'm Getting All Coalition and Mobilitzation Activist, Here! Whoa! Hey! Good Gawd!

I Can't Go on Leno. So, I'll write to both of my readers . . . Ma and the kid that wears the Big Helmet all day.

I have more month at the end of my money. Pat Quinn wants to increase Illinois taxes - won't happen. However, President Obama and his Our Gang Comedy Congress ( Harry, Nancy, Barney, and Chris) and the Agit-Prop News Media ( MSBC, ABC,CBS,HuffPo,NYT) will spin more burden on to the American taxpayer than at any time since your ancestors got their feet and backs wet coming ashore in America.

They came here naked and the crew in D.C. want to make sure that we go out Buck Nekid!

Time to send a bag of tea to D.C. - I'm sending Irish Imported Barry's Breakfast Tea, purchased at Greek American owned ( The Baffes Family) County Fair Store here in Morgan Park neighborhood Chicago. It's Named Like the President!
Here's what to do -

There's a storm abrewin'. What happens when good, responsible people keep quiet? Washington has forgotten they work for us. We don't work for them. Throwing good money after bad is NOT the answer. Sick of the midnight, closed door sessions to come up with a plan? Sick of Congress raking CEO's over the coals while they, themselves, have defaulted on their taxes? Sick of the bailed out companies having lavish vacations and retreats on our tax dollar? Sick of being told it is OUR responsibility to rescue people that, knowingly, bought more house than they could afford? I am sick of being made to feel it is my patriotic duty to pay MORE taxes. I, like all of you, am a responsible citizen. I pay my taxes. I live on a budget and I don't ask someone else to carry the burden for poor decisions I may make. I have emailed my congressmen and senators asking them to NOT vote for the stimulus package as it was written without reading it first. No one listened. They voted for it, pork and all.

O.K. folks, here it is. You may think you are just one voice and what you think won't make a difference. Well, yes it will and YES, WE CAN!! If you are disgusted and angry with the way Washington is handling our taxes. If you are fearful of the fallout from the wreckless spending of BILLIONS to bailout and "stimulate" without accountability and responsibility then we need to become ONE, LOUD VOICE THAT CAN BE HEARD FROM EVERY CITY, TOWN, SUBURB AND HOME IN AMERICA. There is a growing protest to demand that Congress, the President and his cabinet LISTEN to us, the American Citizens. What is being done in Washington is NOT the way to handle the economic free fall.

So, here's the plan. On April 1, 2009, all Americans are asked to send a TEABAG to Washington , D.C. You do not have to enclose a note or any other information unless you so desire. Just a TEABAG. Many cities are organizing protests. If you simply search, "New American Tea Party", several sites will come up. If you aren't the 'protester' type, simply make your one voice heard with a TEABAG. Your one voice will become a roar when joined with millions of others that feel the same way. Yes, something needs to be done but the lack of confidence as shown by the steady decline in the stock market speaks volumes.

This was not my idea. I visited the sites of the 'New American Tea Party' and an online survey showed over 90% of thousands said they would send the teabag on April 1. Why, April 1?? We want them to reach Washington by April 15. Will you do it? I will.. Send it to; 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington , D.C. 20500 ...

Forward this to everyone in your address book. Visit the website for more information about the 'New American Tea Party'. I would encourage everyone to go ahead and get the envelope ready to mail, then just drop it in the mail April 1. Can't guarantee what the postage will be by then, it is going up as we speak, but have your envelope ready. What will this cost you? A little time and a 40 something cent stamp.

What could you receive in benefits? Maybe, just maybe, our elected officials will start to listen to the people. ; Take out the Pork. Tell us how the money is being spent. We want TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. Remember, the money will be spent over the next 4-5 years. It is not too late.

Tea Time Mr. President! You want it iced, or steaming hot?

Rent-A-Cops : The End Game of Illinois Leftists After All

"It gives the community more control over illegal activity,'' Beale said. "Police are there to serve and protect. If we can give them some extra help to serve and protect, that's a win-win for everybody."

Soon, GDs, Mikey Cobras, Four Corner Hustlers, Latin Kings and Vice Lords will face Rent-A-Cop and give up all inclination to 'act the fool!' They will own the streets legally. Systemic Racism and Police Brutality will evaporate. The Community will sing and dance - no longer shall they march! Soul-Patched poet manques will quaff arabica bean brewed by baristas and read Charles Bukowski and Graphic Novels ( Comic Books) without snickering at the tough guys and gals who went from college athletics into the Chicago Police Department.


When all of the Horse-manure created and manufactured by bad people and promoted in Chicago's Media Community is weighed and added up -

1. Systemic Racism Get Out of Jail Free Card

2. Police Brutality 24/7

3. Community Control of Everything - thus no Consequences for Anything Crime or Vice

4. Constant Vilification of Police Officers

5. Bleeding Revenue to Lawsuit Lefty Lawyer League ( G. Flint Taylor, Jon Loevy)

6. Advocacy Politcs

7. Laughingstock Command


the Total Comes to a Privatized Corporate Police Force.

Since Fahey and O'Brien were murdered by the Wilson Brothers, Leftist Academics, Lawyers, Journalists and Americans who swallow anything have orchestrated a complete undermining of any and all confidence in Law Enforcement. When Daley pulled Tisa Morris, an African American attorney, off of responsibility of tracking CR beefs and handed the list of police officers targeted by the Lawsuit Lawyers and created a rubber stamp Board that is comprised of Police Haters, he tipped his hand.

The State Police are the next target from the Lefties like Sun times New Group reporter Angela Caputo, working at the behest of Expungement Attorney Tamara Holder.

“You can have all the legislation in the world, but if you’re going to have an agency like the police that’s going to second guess the court, I don’t know how you’re going to stop it and I don’t know how you’re going to guard against it,” he said. “If you can’t get the king to follow the court, that’s a problem.”

Pop-eyed racist Mary Mitchell will write anything that sets racially sensitive teeth on edge.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/1485235,CST-NWS-mitch19.article

http://progressillinois.com/2009/3/18/unbelievable-defiance-of-law

The Taoiseach( P.M. Chief in Irish) and the Teleprompter- BIFFO Meets Barry

"I was reared in a pub – as a young fellow, serving in the pub I learnt far more there about human nature than I learnt in any university or school. I think it gave me a great insight into people." Taoiseach Brian Cowen

"Mr Obama joked about the free-flowing bar and warned his guests not to wear lampshades on their heads in front of the cameras." Sky News

Mr. President - The Irish Do Not Have a Tradition of Wearing Lampshades -sober or inebriated, but you'll get a pass from Tingle Thighs, OlberBloat and Butchie Maddow.

This Distraction . . . never mind.

One of the Irish 'Lampshade' Profiled by President TelePrompter is Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Mr. Brian Cowen has a wonderful singing voice and has no need of a teleprompter. He is a great guy - glib and welcoming.

On St. Paddy's Day the Taoiseach or Prime Minister Brian Cowen, a great fellow from County Offaly was horsed around by a Teleprompter.. In Ireland, Counties take on the very nature of PC humor so forbidden by tiny-brained and thin-hearted people - Polish Jokes translate to Kerryman Jokes and people from Offaly seem to attract the same affection from neighboring Counties as Illinois residents manage to do from Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan. Missouri, and Iowa populations where we are known as F.I.P.s ( F#$%^ing Illinois P#$%ks) - Offaly folks are known as BIFFO - Big Ignorant F#$%^ers from Offaly.

The BIFFO and the FIP in Chief made the news because of President Obama's addiction to the teleprompter. Taoiseach Cowen read the remarks read by President Obama only moments before - Yuck, Yuck, Yuck! BIFFO!

The Media are going apey on Brian Cowen because The Teleprompter-In-Chief Barack Obama can not and will not communicate without his Plexi-glass/Tri-Pane Fort Apache set.

I sang with Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the Beverly Art Center, following the 2006 South Side Irish Parade. Cousin Willie was the Grand Marshall in his final role as Director of Beverly Area Planning Association and Brian Cowen was serving as Ireland's Minister of Finance. In 2006, Ireland was the marvel of the world of economics and known as the Celtic Tiger - due in no small part to Brian Cowen.

Willie got me to sing with him at the party and we covered Rocky Road to Dublin, Beggarman, Follow Me Up to Carlow and the Minstrel Boy. Years ago Willie and I played with Terry McEldowney as the Sons of Reilly's Daughter: I played 5-string banjo and Willie guitar and Terry played the crowd.

Brian Cowen then stood up and sang the Fields of Athenry a song set in Famine Ireland. No Teleprompter; no hitch, slip or sour note - this Minister had a set of Pipes on Him!

By a lonely prison wall,
I heard a young girl call:
"Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyn's corn,
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay."

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall,
I heard a young man call
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown,
I rebelled, they cut me down.
Now you must raise our child with dignity."

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely harbor wall,
She watched the last star fall
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived to hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.


Brian Cowen is no empty suit.

Taoiseach Cowen, as a FIP, Chicagoan and American, I apologize for my President. He should have had more grace than he displayed. You were treated shabbily.

Gov. Pat Quinn -Either ( Daley/Madigan Barbed Wire Mattress Guy) OR ( The Next Progressive Moses) - He Ain't Nuts.

"It's much better to level with the people in a straightforward manner," Quinn told reporters. "The citizens of Illinois want honest leadership, and they need straight talk." Illinois Governor Pat Quinn

Click my post title for more on the Quinn Budget from the News Gazette
1. Pat Quinn will tell Illinois that he is the guy who dives on the Barbed Wire for Speaker Madigan ( clearing the way for Lisa Madigan) and Mayor Daley in his bid for the Olympics -'Oh, Yeah, we can afford them . . .honest!'

2.Pat Quinn is the Fiesty Progressive Dingbat Warrior Who Will Program His Way into History Books and Lose Every Election in his Path. The Peoples Populist and Fighting Something Or Other! Jesus, I hope not. I like Pat Quinn.

The Quinn/Martire Budget will crash and burn and Illinois will face another long,long, long hot summer in Legislative Session - getting Meeks Threats/Coalition Protests/Purple T-Shirt Visitors/Media Keening and essentially nothing much else.

Speaker Madigan will be villifed by the Boiled Beets Progressives because he is smart, effective and professional.

Pat, as a decent man who was no doubt asked to take a dreary overly plumb, sour faced, neighbor girl to some dance by your Mom and Dad, you can not really believe what you said, "It's much better to level with the people in a straightforward manner," Quinn told reporters. "The citizens of Illinois want honest leadership, and they need straight talk."

Hey, didn't John McCain copyright that one?

Are you really going to tell Illinois that 'we don't sweat much for Fat Girls'?

Pope Kiril Quinn - The Shoes of the Ninian Edwards

Kiril Lakota: [the shadow of the cross is on the Pope's empty chair during this exchange of dialog] Leone, how does a man ever know if his actions are for himself or for God?
Cardinal Leone: You don't know. You have a duty to act. But you have no right to expect approval, or even a successful outcome.
Kiril Lakota: So, in the end, my friend, we are alone?

The Shoes of the Fisherman

I had a great chat with veteran banker Steve Jordan, who worked in Boston, Singapore, New York and San Francisco for some of the leading banks in America. Mr. Jordan is disgusted by the destruction of banking in this country and most especially by the idiotic and gutless trend to nationalize our banks and lending institutions.

Steve Jordan reminded me of the novel by Australian Morris L. West - The Shoes of the Fisherman in which the Pope sells off all of the Vatican's assets to stop a World War sparked by famine in China.Pope Kiril I had been confined to a Soviet Gulag until he was named to replace the Pope. Jordan pointed out that this fictional Pope needed to do What Jesus Would Do, which makes for fine and inspirationally uplifting fiction, but bad economics and worse management -'What about the next Famine? Who's the next Vicar of Christ and what's he got left? Think Red China will buck up?' Nope.

Bankers quit being bankers and made themselves pawns to politicians - politicians are pawns to Programs and Programs come from Taxes. Taxes come from the Wealthier citizens and primarily from the Middle Class and also largely from businesses that pay the wages that can be taxed.

Here in Illinois, political semi-exile recluse, Governor Pat Quinn is playing Pope Kiril Quinn the First - filling the Shoes of Ninian Edwards 1826-1830( 1st Il.Guv). Ninian did one term - a full one though.

Here is Pope Quinn's Encyclical:

Quinn's proposal would raise the individual income tax rate from 3 percent to 4.5 percent and boost the corporate rate from 4.8 percent to 7.2 percent. At the same time, Quinn would shield lower-income families from the tax bite by increasing the personal exemption from the current $2,000 to $6,000. In all, the higher income taxes would generate about $3.1 billion.

He contended 5 million lower wage-earning residents would pay no increase in income taxes or get a tax cut due to the higher exemption.

Quinn also is considering doubling the $10 cost of a four-year driver's license, adding $20 to the $79 cost of a basic license plate fee and increasing vehicle title fees as part of his "Illinois Jobs Now!" proposal—a $26 billion public works program that he said would create 340,000 jobs over several years. The higher fees on motorists would fund $18.6 billion in transportation projects, including road repair and mass transit, and 10 percent of the new income-tax revenue would pay for school construction and unspecified "economic development" projects.

Additionally, the governor is backing a plan that would boost the current 98-cent per pack cigarette tax by 50 cents in the next budget year to help pay down a backlog of long-overdue bills from health-care providers to the poor. The tax could go up another 50 cents a pack the following year.

Quinn outlined his plans in a meeting Tuesday with Democratic lawmakers, who praised the new spirit of openness in contrast to their contentious budget battles with Blagojevich. Still, many lawmakers were warning that several of Quinn's plans were non-starters—including one concept which would deny cities and towns a share of new income-tax revenue.

This is Class Warfare - corporations will leave the State; Programs will bloat; More Taxes without Cuts. The Middle Class will bear more burden. Pope Quinn is not selling off State Assets to pay bills, meet debts, and cover expenses - that, Pope Quinn leaves to the Taxpayer -Pope Quinn loots the citizens and businesses that will leave Illinois.

In Morris L. West's novel the Bells Tolled for Joy - at noon today, Governor Quinn, the bells toll for Thee. Fiction and this Tax Scam are cousins.

Leo Lions Old Teeth Bite the Way Downstate! Go Lions

Leo High School is proof that God works miracles. Leo High School offers a solid college prep education to young guys from the Englewood, Grand Crossing, Brainard, and our home neighborhoods of Auburn/Gresham. These, by the way are all African American neighborhoods. Leo men go on to Boston College, Marquette, Loyola, DePaul, Purdue, Notre Dame and West Point, because guys send in a great deal of money from Zipcodes -60643, 60655, 60611,60453, 60462 and beyond - heavy white population Zipcodes

Leo High School is God's miracle - goodness without the guilt. Leo is not a PC haven - it is the Real Deal.

The Leo men pay back handsomely. Last night the Leo Basketball 3-A team took down CPS school Brooks 51-48 in well-fought battle pitting young guns against Old Lions at Chicago State University.

"They controlled the boards in the first half, but in the second half we let the sophomores know we were seniors," Gatewood said.

The Lions took their first lead (43-42) since the opening minutes on a bucket by Malcolm McFarland with 3:27 left and went ahead for good a minute later (46-45) on McFarland's putback.

. . .

Veteran composure trumped youthful exuberance in Leo's 51-48 win Tuesday night over upstart Brooks in the Class 3A supersectional at Chicago State.

The Lions, with three senior starters, rallied from nine points down late in the third quarter to overtake the Eagles, who featured five sophomores and a junior in their seven-man rotation.

The victory earns Leo the school's first trip Downstate since winning the 2004 Class A title and a matchup Friday in Peoria against Oswego.

"We weren't panicking; we just started off slow," said Leo senior guard James Pointer, who scored a game-high 16 points. "Coach (Noah Cannon) told us in practice this week it was our time. They (Brooks) can wait."

The Old White Guys in the stand went to Leo in the 1940's, 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's and they have the Young Lions Backs - Always!


Go Lions

Martyr Quinn for Ralph Martire'sSake? Blago Budget Bonehead Backs Bloat Boost!

Progress Illinois which hands me more laughs than The Onion ( without meaning to do so and that is even funnier) is all Progressive and Pouffe *over Ralph Martire's** imprimatur on the Illinois Tax Boost. Today's giggle is from Josh Kalven again and he wants Illinois to know that Mike Madigan is very, very smart and Lisa Madigan has ambition!
http://progressillinois.com/2009/3/16/the-one-to-watch

Josh, Honor Bright?

Progress is all Quinnish and Daisy Happy! More Taxes Mean more slots for low skilled and unskilled SEIU placements in the State Budget! PI Loves PQ! They want Speaker Mike Madigan to be the bad guy. They can not go after Lisa Madigan for the obvious PC reasons - she's a Female Girl Woman, but they can get all Boiled Beet Progressive on Daddo.

Pat Quinn, the Governor, wants to increase Illinois taxes - Pat Quinn wants a dramatic increase. Really Huge! Quinn has Ralph Martire in his corner - 'Cut Me Ralph. I can go the Distance! This is a Long Distance Race? Boxing? I thought it was Cross-Country, Ralph! Ralph? Ralph! where's the water bottle? Taxed? That Too? Sponge Me! This is supposed to be Long Distance Cross Country Running! No?'

No; it's Boxing Guv and this is Round One! You might get to Round Two. Oh, thats right, Ralph is in your corner. The canvass is not all that comfortable. You will be hitting it hard, by the way.

Ralph Martire is a career know-it-all-screw-up - a Progressive Professor with his snout plunged in the public trough. From Dawn Clark Netsch to Rod Blagojevich, Ralph Martire's slide rule reads 'Taxes.' State Government Spendathons! Lefty Agit-Prop and Meeks Shall Inherit the Works Coalition Building! Pat Quinn is toast.

This from Peoria!

"What should the state do to balance the budget? Cut spending or raise taxes and maintain spending," Martire said.

In fact, Quinn said last week, he plans to do both. When he delivers his budget speech Wednesday, Quinn plans to ask for an increase in the state income tax, something that hasn't happened in Illinois since 1993, when the current 3 percent personal rate was made permanent. Quinn also said he will announce more than $800 million in cuts to the budget.

Quinn hasn't said how large a tax increase he will seek, although some reports have said he will ask for a new rate of 4.5 percent, a 50 percent increase. An increase of that magnitude would raise more than $4 billion in new revenue.

However, Quinn also will ask for the state personal income tax exemption to increase from $2,000 to $6,000 to offset the impact of the tax hike.

Martire thinks the income tax increase should be even larger. What's more, he thinks Quinn also should adjust the state sales tax while lawmakers are debating revenue increases.

Ralph Martire, who helped Blago give away the Illinois General Store to tax salaried SEIU pals and allies,as well as the usual Pork Eating Capitalists, warns that trimming the Budget Bloat through . . .TAX Cuts !!!! Hopi Indians, Mildred, think of the Children! . . .might . . . might mind you lead to rising unemployment figures.

Yeah???!!!!!!!!!!! Tax-salaried employees put in the State Budget by you and Blago Ralph!

Martire will be a Huge help in Pat Quinn's Martyrdom! You can set your watch by dopes like Martire . . . I mean Distinguished Professors on the Public Teat like Ralph Martire.

* footstool - SEIU's footstool, ottoman, place to put feet on & etc.

** Ralph Martire:Ralph Martire is executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (“CTBA”). He also serves as a regular columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, the State Journal-Register and The Herald Newson issues involving government accountability, tax, fiscal and budget policies. Ralph served on the
budget advisory board to Governor Rod Blagojevich's transition team, where he acted as chairperson ofthe state revenue subcommittee. Ralph was the principal author of a study CTBA produced that identifiedrevenue enhancement proposals to address the 2002 fiscal crises in the state of Illinois. Five of the proposals identified in that study ultimately became law. Ralph also was a key member of the research
team that produced the groundbreaking "State of Working Illinois" report, which detailed industry,employment, wage and benefit trends in Illinois over the last 15 years. A joint project of CTBA andNorthern Illinois University, the State of Working Illinois has been featured in over 150 media (print andbroadcast) placements nationwide. ( emphasis my own)

http://www.ctbaonline.org/All%20Links%20to%20Press%20and%20Reports/Contact%20Us/Ralph%20Martire.pdf

Chicago Cops - Heroes Every Day, but Especially on Parade Days

Outnumbered. Out- Idioted. Out-Lawyered. Out-Politicianed. Out There. Chicago Police Officers are the real heroes.

They helped me look for a lost 4 year old.

They were loudly abused by drunks from early Sunday morning and well into the night.

World Class Scum Bag - G. Flint Taylor appeared on a Cable TV show called the Professors ( I caught this at about 1PM yesterday) who said that systemic racism and brutality is what Chicago Police Officers are all about -'They wield nightsticks on the backs of blacks, shrilled G. Flint. They have not used nightsticks in YEARS! None of the 'Professors' picked up on that fact however and most talked liked they were using words they learned that morning -'The Conflagration of the community rubrics are Tantamounted to the Proliferation of Police Powers on the Community.'

Nope. Cops are heroes.

During the Parade which brought 325,000 people together on the pavement around Western Ave., Chicago Cops put down two good sized brawls - the biggest at 111th and Western in the CVS parking lot the home to the Coach/Bus tourist louts from the fern bars up North and from suburbs who got boiled on booze early in the day and stayed hard at it until dark and the Metra Mopes from down-town, lofting cases of cheap domestic ( CHI-RISH MILLERS primarily) beers and smoking Weed Dude! One at 105th and Talman was put down with less violence, from what I heard.

Most of the outside revellers were great and respectful people. However, the ones who got all geezed-up to get their Irish Freak On - the sloppy drunk girls were the most sad and obnoxious of this variety - should be ashamed. Shame comes from the recognition of consequences for actions. These mopes do not understand consequences - they file lawsuits when they fall on someone's driveway and bust out a few teeth that have just passed the contents of their stomachs. Nice. These are the clowns who Bus It Down to the Parade. The Cops deal with them.

Granted we have enough of our own home grown dummies, but the Exodus from Look Down On The South Side Land of Oafs is too much.

Chicago Police Officers handled the situation with good humor, common sense and, when that failed, muscular application of Professional Standards. G. Flint Taylor was no doubt skulking about the drunks and Weed Citizens trolling for a lawsuit.

Well done, Officers! Mary Beth Sheehan and The South Side Parade Committee did a wonderful job as always in organizing a magnificent parade.

However, it is to the credit of the Chicago Police Officers who stood good for the South Side neighborhoods of Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood in interdicting the imbeciles - Homegrown and Imported.

Thank you, Officers!

St. Joseph - How to Man -Up!

Yesterday was the South Side St. Paddy's Day Parade, but my thoughts were turned to St. Joseph*. Here's the deal - every year my cousin Willie opens up his bungalow over on Bell to about 200 people - mostly cousins and relatives and neighbors, but also Willie's endless parade of friends. Willie is one of the most genuine human beings and Christian gentleman to the steely backbone ( the anti-Hickey so to speak). Willie and Kerry and Bart, Maggie and Liam host a great Party that is often guested by the Great. President Barack Obama, Paul Vallas, Alderman Rugai,Tom Dart, Judge Tom Murphy, members of the Irish Government have all attended the Mass and Irish Breakfast with Willie before the Parade.

My role was to help cook bacon and Irish Bangers, but since the growth of this event exceeded the time and material needed to feed the folks, Willie has contracted the work out to Calabria. My job now is to help with the coffee. Nephew Bart and myself had to get the filled urns and pitchers and plastic vessels from Karim at Dunkin Donuts on 104th and Western.

I got to Willie's with the coffee and set things up, but then had to leave and get my car locked into the driveway at home. Anyone and everyone decides to make parking a personal entitlement. 'Park Here! Open Driveway! We won't have to walk a block or so - What's he going to do Tow Us? Flatten our Tires?' Well, it is a thought, Jasper. The Parade route on Western gets locked at 10 A.M. and it becomes impossible to cross Western Ave.

I got my car back home and started to walk the eight long and short blocks back to Willie's. A frantic woman had lost her little boy between 108th and 107th on Artesian. I asked her where and she said , 'I stopped to talk to a friend here on Artesian and turned around and he was gone! He's wearing a lime green T-shirt with dragons and Cubs hat- He's four years old - Oh, My God!.' Knowing the greatness of my neighbors, no little guy would go unnoticed and I tried to reassure her. I told her I would walk south on Artesian. It was still early and the thick crowds had yet to smother Western Ave. Down Artesian I went with a purpose and eyes wide open. Look, I am a gold-plated jerk about many things, but kids are not one of them - especially lost kids. I cut East on 109th and made my way back North on the west side of Western Ave, keeping an eye peeled for a solitary, crying four year old boy with a Lime Green Dragon t-shirt and a Cubs hat.

Nothing. I was getting as frantic as the poor Mom back on Artesian. I walked through the parking lot at County Fair and talked to two cops and they said no dice on the little guy. I crossed the parking lot to DiCola's and walked through that area and in back of the Quaker Meeting House. Nothing. I had lost Conor, Nora, and Clare for moments of pure anguish and self-loathing at museums, malls and marathons ( which I watch, but choose not to Run). There is nothing more horrific to a parent.

At 107th and Campbell I found the woman - girl really - talking to a tall bruiser who had a lime-green Buckeen with a CUBS hat perched on his shoulders. 'Thank you so much! This is my boy friend, Joe Petraikus and he chased Larry back to me.'

It turns out that Larry (4) went to pet a puppy and had ducked out of sight and followed the puppy and its owners west on 107th Street. The woman's boyfriend Joe the Loogan, a sobriquet I kept to myself by the way given the size and sinews of the lad, saw the wandering Larry and scooped him up.

It was too late to head back to Willie's and so I returned home to write an article for Chicago Daily Observer. I started thinking about Joe the Loogan, Larry and I never got Mom's name.

Joe, like the Patron of the Catholic Church, the patron of Fathers, the patron of workers, the patron Saint of Italians and Sicilians, was man who cared for the child who belonged to another. Joe found a little boy who had wandered off and agonized his mother, just like St. Joseph, the blue collar tradesman of Royal Blood, found his wife's little boy in a Temple full of wise men. Joe the Loogan found a little boy in waves of green costumes pushing strollers and wagons.

St. Joseph is the best saint. He teaches us males what it means to be a man - how to love with unconditional courage and gentle toughness. Toughness means not what one can dish out - pain, abuse, terror - but how much one can endure - doubt,discomfort and sometimes disgrace. Italians and Poles celebrated the masculine St. Joseph who worked quietly with his hands and protected his wife and child from the idiot who governed them.

We Irish celebrate a loner who worked miracles with his words. We need to crowd in on St. Joseph more than we do - I know I could use some manning up,

St. Joseph teaches us to Man up. Celebrate St. Joseph - no goofy green hats, and Miller Brewing keeps their hands off him. March 19th - St. Joseph Watch Over Us Guys!



*Joseph was foster father to Jesus. There are many children separated from families and parents who need foster parents. Please consider contacting your local Catholic Charities or Division of Family Services about becoming a foster parent.

Prayer -Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus, help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen

Embryonic Stem Cells Come from Dead Kids - End of Story

President Obama's stem-cell policy "one of those definitional 'change we can believe in' moments," said John Nichols in The Nation. By reversing George W. Bush's ban on federal funding for research using new embryonic stem-cell lines, Obama is making it clear that "science and morality can mix."

No, he's showing that science and politics can mix, said Robert P. George and Eric Cohen in The Wall Street Journal. "Bush's policy was one of moderation," because it permitted the science to continue without encouraging the destruction of human embryos. Obama is pretending to be calm and moderate while advancing radical policies that "will promote a whole new industry of embryo creation and destruction," funded by taxpayers.

"If you support this research, congratulations: You won," said William Saletan in Slate. But, remember, this wasn't a fight between ideology and science. "It was a fight between 5-day-olds and 50-year-olds." If you ignore the losing side's main point -- that "embryos are the beginnings of people" -- you could win the stem-cell debate but lose your soul.

The Gals of Planned Parenthood and the Geldings who play ball with them might opine -

'Can you weigh a soul? Can a Soul get reservations at Spiaggia? Soul? Oh, I'm voting for the Soul.'

Planned Parenthood needs a win. They had a huge political one in November with the election of President Obama, for whom Planned Parenthood the scions of Eugenics Warrior Princess Margaret Sanger spent millions of dollars to support.

Anyone can get elected, really. I'm from Illinois and we twice elected the Klepto-Governor Rod Blagojevich, who begat Senator Roland Burris, poster boy for political opportunism, who begat more nonsense than a Stooge-athon on Cable. All that politics requires is sticking to the crafted script, having willing idiots like Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Butch Maddow in your hip pocket to to vilify any and all opposition, and keeping the cat hair off of your top coat.

Planned Parenthood needs a philosophical win based upon the tactical application of science which uses numbers, graphs, charts and nuance
over morals and ethics that employs unmeasurables - human understanding, honesty, and good will, for the most part. The Politics of ABORTION allows Obama and Planned Parenthood to sacrifice infants on the altar of 'Research.' Just gush out 'Research will save lives and end disease' and gutless nitwits and bumper sticker junkies will nod with solemn conviction. Oppose the Abortion Industry (PP, Abortion Docs, DNC, MSNBC, Cell Research Companies, Agit-Prop Progressives & etc.) position and get called evil Mormons, close-knit ethnic Catholics Bigots, or Rural Religious Reactionary Rubes, like in the nuance Gay Debates in California. BTW - they ( The Gay Agit-Propers) conveniently forget the African American Churches in the vilification process in the Gay Debate, because they need some black coalition building once Jesse Jackson and Al Sahrapton bite off their morditas.

Stem Cell research demands that infants die - be murdered. Nuanced Abortion Rhetoric allows Planned Parenthood to euphemize euthanizing people - like 'partial birth abortion' which means jamming a probe into the skull of a full-term baby and then yanking the dead little critter out with a forceps.

Jesus, Can you imagine dating some Planned Parenthood harpy? Ilsa of the SS and Penelope of Planned Parenthood have about the same cache.

President Obama is scripted on the wrong side of this debate. He will come out looking like more of an opportunistic dope than some Hitlerian monster - that job's taken. President Obama's strident triumph of the will - 'science over morality' dodge will make him look dumber than Rod Blagojevich with a hangover.

I like this gent's point of view.

It was a fight between 5-day-olds and 50-year-olds." If you ignore the losing side's main point -- that "embryos are the beginnings of people" -- you could win the stem-cell debate but lose your soul.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research comes from Dead Kids - End of Story.

I expect not.

Friar Jack's Real St. Paddy! Better Than the One Goofs Puke To at Both Parades Here in Chicago

It is tough knowing who in Hell each of us happens to be, let alone 'knowing' what a Legendary Saint is all about.

Today and tomorrow the Youth of America will get over served.

They want to get their Chi-Rish On! Chi -Rish don't Ch-Ite about St. Patrick or Saint Patrick's day.

I hold that St. Paddy was an Italian whose folks worked in Wales.

He converted the Irish to Christianity after being a slave in the Emerald Isle for years, and years. Instead of asking the Pope for 'a Mule and Forty Acres' in County Kerry; the emancipated Patricius asked to speak Truth to Power.

Here is a fine account of the abused Saint.


What do we know about the life of St. Patrick?

Patrick was born Patricius somewhere in Roman Britain to a relatively wealthy family. He was not religious as a youth and, in fact, claims to have practically renounced the faith of his family.

While in his teens, Patrick was kidnapped in a raid and transported to Ireland, where he was enslaved to a local warlord and worked as a shepherd until he escaped six years later.

He returned home and eventually undertook studies for the priesthood with the intention of returning to Ireland as a missionary to his former captors. It is not clear when he actually made it back to Ireland, or for how long he ministered there, but it was definitely for a number of years.

By the time he wrote the Confession and the "Letter to Coroticus," Patrick was recognized by both Irish natives and the Church hierarchy as the bishop of Ireland. By this time, also, he had clearly made a permanent commitment to Ireland and intended to die there.

These two brief documents are the basis for all we know of the historical Patrick. The Confession, because its purpose was to recount his own call to convert the Irish and to justify his mission to an apparently unsympathetic audience in Britain, is not a traditional biography.

And the "Letter to Coroticus," apparently an Irish warlord whom Patrick was forced to excommunicate, is a wonderful illustration of Patrick's prowess as a preacher but doesn't tell us much by way of traditional biography either.


Adapted from St. Anthony Messenger.


How did Patrick decide to return to Ireland?

As recounted in the Confession, most of the major events in Patrick's life are preceded by a dream or vision. The visions were usually simple—almost self-explanatory—but they were also very vivid and carried enormous emotional impact with Patrick.

The first vision, which he received after six years of servitude in Ireland, came by way of a mysterious voice, heard in his sleep. "Your hungers are rewarded: You are going home," the voice said. "Look, your ship is ready." Indeed, some 200 miles away, there it was. (Patrick was nothing if not tenacious.)

The second vision—the one that came to him after he'd returned home and that called him back to Ireland—was equally straightforward. Victoricus, a man Patrick knew in Ireland, appeared to him in this dream, holding countless letters, one of which he handed to Patrick. The letter was entitled "The Voice of the Irish." Upon reading just the title, he heard a multitude of voices crying out to him: "Holy boy, we beg you to come and walk among us once more." He was so moved by this that he was unable to read further and woke up.

But the dream recurred again and again. Eventually Patrick told his dismayed family of his plans to return to evangelize Ireland and soon began his preparations for the priesthood. What is interesting about this dream calling Patrick to his lifelong mission to the Irish is that it came not as a directive from God, but as a plea from the Irish. According to his recollections decades later, Patrick wasn't commanded to bring civilization or salvation to the heathens. He was invited to live among them as Christ's witness.

When he finally returned to Ireland, he proceeded to treat the barbarians with the respect implicit in his dream. From the outset, Patrick felt humbled and honored that God had selected him to convert the Irish. Apparently he never doubted that he would be able to do so.


Adapted from St. Anthony Messenger.


What was life like during Patrick's time?

Patrick lived in the fifth century, a time of rapid change and transition. In many ways we might say that those times of turbulence and uncertainty were not unlike our own. The Roman Empire was beginning to break up, and Europe was about to enter the so-called Dark Ages. Rome fell to barbarian invaders in 410. Within 10 years of that time, the Roman forces began to leave Britain to return to Rome to defend positions back home. Life, once so orderly and predictable under Roman domination, now became chaotic and uncertain. Patrick entered the world of that time.

The British Church of Patrick's time was also intimately connected with the Roman Empire. Missionaries from the continent followed the development of Roman towns, travelling over the system of good Roman roads. This was an urban Church with bishops establishing their centers in these Roman towns. The great ecumenical councils, beginning with that in Nicea in 325, doctrinally solidified a developing and common faith throughout this Church.

As Ireland had not come under the Roman Empire, it was for the most part unnoticed and untended by the developing Church. There were some Irish Christians, mostly on the eastern and southeastern coast. Many of these were probably British slaves who had been taken into captivity by the Irish. There is a record of a Bishop Palladius being sent to Ireland before Patrick. But the mission of Patrick was unique. There had been, up to this time, no other organized or concerted missionary effort to convert any pagan peoples beyond the confines of the Roman Empire. Patrick's efforts to do this, in fact, were criticized as being a useless project.

Adapted from A Retreat With St. Patrick: Discovering God in All.



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Friar Jack's Inbox

A note from Friar Jack: I want to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of you that have taken the time to respond to me in recent months and offer your own thoughts about my musings or the Catechism Quiz. Often your thoughts are very profound and heartfelt and indeed illuminating to me, not to mention inspiring. They can also be challenging, even sharply so, causing me to reconsider and often to broaden my horizons. Many also include kind words of appreciation and touching pledges of prayerful and loving support. My most heartfelt thanks to all!!

It is my intention and that of my coworkers that each of you who sends me an e-mail response receives an automatic response indicating that I am very grateful for all communications from you, read each one of them and pray for all who write me, as well as for our entire online community. I want to confirm that all of this is true.

I am told, at the same time, that there can be glitches. After the newsletter goes out we must disengage the automatic response temporarily to avoid being bombarded by "out of the office" notices and other responses. Being technologically challenged I don't understand such things, but this problem has been mentioned to me more than once. So if you don't always receive a response from me, it's not that we don't have good intentions.

Let me also explain that it is simply impossible for me to answer personally the large volume of e-mails that come in. This is painful to me, because I am often deeply touched by your comments, insights and sincere questions. This was especially true of many responses to my last musing, "God's World Is Holy." My heart wants to answer and engage in dialogue with you, but because of the many hats I wear here at St. Anthony Messenger Press and unrelenting deadlines, it is simply impossible for me to do so.

One thing that amazes me about your responses is that they come from all around the world and from people of different religious backgrounds. We are truly an international and "ecumenical" community. This is a good lead-in to this month's Inbox. Last month we printed an e-mail from a reader who said the Muslim majority in Malaysia persecutes Christians. Two readers from Malaysia wrote to take exception with that assertion. Here is one of the two e-mails:


Dear Friar Jack: I am a Chinese living in Malaysia. I am baptized as a Catholic in year 2002. Previously I was a Taoist. I write in response to the statement made by Miss Erina that "Christians in Malaysia are persecuted and imprisoned." The statement seems so general and misleading. I myself observe harmony, freedom and respect in whatever religion one chooses to embrace in the country. My family is staying in a neighborhood where the majority of the residents are Muslims. Though there are a lot of differences in cultures, beliefs and mindsets between Muslims and Christians, as far as my neighborhood is concerned we are able to live harmoniously and respectfully with each other. Diplomacy and peace will not come by themselves. They have to be developed. I believe we as Christians are always called by God to live peacefully with all people and to love everyone. Though it is hard to practice humility, it is the root to understand and accept people and their beliefs. "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me..."—June

Dear Friar Jack: I sometimes cannot understand the difference between my human life and my life of GOD. I hope (and know that I will) stand face to face with him so to thank him for all he has given to me. I do understand that my GOD, Maker and Savior gives to me all I need to get through what we call life. Why is it that he looks to me with a love as if I am the only thing in this universe? My GOD is an awesome GOD and I tell him so each day.—Chester

Dear Chester: You express with great reverence and humility the mystery of God and the close relationship you seem to have with God. Jesus also spoke of this mystery from God's point of view: "I am the vine, you are the branches" (John 15:5).

Send your feedback to friarjack@americancatholic.org.

U2 at Keegan's Pub in Beverly - Nah, Not Really.

Singer Bono and his U2 bandmates were spotted hanging out at the Violet Hour lounge in Wicker Park on Tuesday night before exiting through the kitchen -- after their syndicated radio interview at the Metro rock venue, where they hawked their new album and upcoming tour, whose first U.S. stop is Sept. 12 at Soldier Field.

From Sneed 3/12/2009

Singer Bono and his anonymous U2 bandmates were ignored at Keegan's Pub at 10618 S. Western Ave., Chicago in the Beverly neighborhood on the south side, where no one asked about their new album and upcoming tour, whose first U.S. stop is Sept, 12 at Soldier Field. from me, if you don't mind.


Bernard - Irish born owner of Keegan's and Guinnesss tapster. - 'Soft day, lads. What's the craic?'

Bono - 'Four pints, please.'

Retired CPD hero - 'More of your extended family crowding into our country illegally, Bern?'

Bernard - 'They're Jackeens, Billy. Drink your Miller and don't scare off the trades . . . (soto voce) he's harmless lads . . .now. Dublin men'

Bono - 'We are that . . .more world men nowadays.'

CPD hero - 'Outta work, too? I thought most of you Pig$hit Irish #$%^ed off back to Paddyland in this, our troubled economy. Must be some brick work left out in Will County.'

Bono - 'Jaysus, We're U2, Yank.'

CPD - 'Were I what?'

Bono - 'No We're . . .We are . . .U2.'

CPD - 'No, I are retired'

Bono - 'I'm Bono'

CPD - 'I'm thirsty.'

Bono - 'There's four Tellies in here Have you not seen us?

CPD- You on Jeopardy?

Bernard - 'Enjoy your pints, Lads. ( Fade to black,or green,or pink or whatever . . .)

Out of such events events weaves the rich full tapestry of life in Morgan Park.

Jody Weiss - Learn from CPD Chief Francis O'Neill ( 1848-1936)

Click my post title for the MSNBC Bonfire of the Vanities celebration of Phil Rogers over his slanted report on The Judge Gettleman/G. Flint Taylor Law School Smack-down of Police Superintendent Jody Weiss.

Jody Weiss made a tepid attempt to 'do the right thing' for Police Officers but backed down.

There is a wonderful new book Chief O'Neill's Sketchy Recollections of an Eventful Life in Chicago, Edited by Ellen Skerrett and Mary Lesch. Chief O'Neill saved lives in the Iroquois Theatre Fire, Protected strikers in the Railway Strike, The 1904 Stockyard Strike, the great municipal and Teamster Strikes of 1905. fought with Progressive phonies and loudmouths like Emma Goldman, who was involved in the assassination of McKinley, and Dr. Cornelia DeBey 'a Mannish woman who was most aggressive,' Vice Lords Hinkey Dink Kenna, and Corporate monsters like Meat Packing Companies, and the thousands of vicious criminals. Chief O'Neill even had a cockroach lawyer like G. Flint Taylor - One Brode Bradford Davis, who tried to make some dough off of the police.

Chief O'Neill warned all persons who decide to be Chicago's Top-Cop.

Every head of the police in a large city, whether know as general superintendent, chief, or commissioner, is certain to encounter difficulties. The general public wants the law enforced. The leaders of the powers that be expect concessions and special favors. Between the two influences he is liable to get forced out before the term of his office expires.

On difficulties not already mentioned, I had more than my share, all of them based on the desire of certain elements to force my resignation. As soon as Mayor Harrison had left the city on his midsummer vacation in 1901, investigators were set to work to dig up something to my discredit in past years. It was surmised that in the mayor's absence discipline would be relaxed and that I might incautiously become involved in questionable associations. As nothing came of this move, a scheme was evolved to indict me on the charge of attempting to violate the civil service law; in back of this scheme was the political leader most interested in my disgrace. It was rehearsed for one week in the home of a police lieutenant, When the time was ripe, the witness was seized on a [subpoena] duces tecum and hurried to the office of the state's attorney, where he lost his nerve, forgot his lines and blurted out the truth. Notwithstanding this, he was taken before a grand jury, where he denied knowing anything to my detriment. It appears that the lieutenant had been promised a captaincy in any police district of his selection if he succeeded in smirching me. Instead, he lost his job and his pension.

The publisher of an evening paper, now dead, had been subsidized to harass me daily, but it did not work, the final effort was to "frame" me. It was very alluring bait indeed if I would only bite, but as I could not be induced to visit 'the spot.' I escaped all conspiracies unscathed and continued as head of the Chicago Police Department until it suited me to retire from service.

Chief O'Neill knew the Progressive phonies, the corrupt politicians, the dangerous anarchists, the vicious strike breakers, the callous capitalists, and sneaks in his ranks. Most importantly O'Neill knew the respect he had earned as a 'flat-foot' who took a burglars bullet, who backed his men when a radical tossed a bomb that killed eleven at Hay Market Square, who treated strikers as dignified working men, and never trusted the Press.

Carlos Nelson and Greater Auburn/Gresham Development Corp. Getting Things Done on 79th Street

My pal Carlos Nelson, long-time director of the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation invited me over to the offices at 79th and Racine to discuss a planned tour of the Auburn/ Gresham neighborhood. we are working with writer Chris Vogel to develop some historical context to the tour. Much fun!

Along with Cheryl Johnson, Linda Johnson Herb Newkirk and my buddy Ernest Sanders, Carlos Nelson has had his shoulders set to a huge wheel. This neighborhood is an architectural dream scape with fine examples of the Chicago bungalow and commercial Art Deco properties abounding.

The history and the fabric of these neighborhoods is rich soil indeed.

Carlos and his staff have worked very hard to bring about some positive changes on the landscape and in the hearts of people. The landscape part is easy its the work on the human pump that is trouble.

There is no denying that 79th Street between the Dan Ryan and Ashland Ave. has undergone dramatic changes some which Leo High School has had a big part.

Most significantly, Carlos Nelson and GAGDC has eliminated much of the blighted properties and attracted new businesses to the neighborhood. Stores and services that were nowhere to be found in 1995 - gas stations and drug stores were no existent. Now 79th Street has stores and social service providers including Catholic Charities.

Leo High School has remained as an institutional anchor and source of inspiration to our neighbors. Our partnership with Carlos Nelson is a great one.

Barbie's Fifty! Cougar Barbie, or Drive Three Kids to Four Different Sporting Events Barbie

Girl You'll be Woman Soon! Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not Neil Diamond! Where's Moose Gilmartin?

Moose Gilmartin, a critic with a discerning ear for quality music, would invariably treat a Neil Diamond offering with an abrupt and ripping swipe of the phonograph needle arm across the grooves of the record. CEEEEWRRRPPPPPPPPIIIIIIIIIPPFFFP. Followed by the deft Frizzbeeing of the tainted vinvyl against the wall and replacement of J.J. Jackson's recording of . . .

You don't know how I feel
You'll never know how I feel
When I needed you to come around
You always try to bring me down
Oh, but I know, girl, believe me when I say that
You are surely, surely gonna pay, girl
But it's all right all right girl
You can hurt me but it's all right
Hey now, one day ah, you will see
You'll never find a guy like me
Who'll love you right both day and night
You'll never have to worry 'cause it's all uptight
Oh, but I'm tellin' you girl and I know it's true
That I was made to love only you
But it's all right, all right girl
You can hurt me, but it's all right
Go on, yeah

Oh, oh, yeah
My my my baby, wow, yeah!
But it's all right all right girl
Hey, say it's all right all right girl
Now there's one thing I wanna say, hey, yeah
You'll meet a guy who'll make you pay
He'll treat you bad and make you sad
And you will lose the love you had
Oh, but I hate to say I told you so, but
Baby, you gotta gotta reap what you sow
But it's all right all right girl
You are payin' now, but it's all right
So goodbye, now, goodbye, girl
You're payin' now, say bye-bye
You hurt me once, you hurt me twice
Oh, but-a baby, that don't cut no ice
Hey, goodbye, baby

Much better for a fine come of age woman like Barbie!

Happy Birthday, Toots!

My two girls stripped hundreds of your clones 'Buck Nekid!' and one slept with Nekid Barbies under her feet as a nightime ritual - I kid you all not!


One German woman has the largest Barbie Collection in the World! Most American parents believe that their child held that honor.

Bettina Dorfmann to take a look at her record-breaking collection in Germany with an assortment of Squarehead Barbies or maybe even a Klaus Barbie? That was cruel.

J. J. Jackson is much more fitting a Queen Like Barbie, than goofy old Neil Diamond.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7929492.stm

Bill Maher - The Inflated Ego of a Cheap Bigot and Deflated Talent. Billy There's Bigger and Better Catholic Haters.

Progressives hate Catholics and love Bill Maher.

Progressives are allowed to hate Catholics in PC America. It's the only form of bigotry allowable under Law ( not covered by any Hate Crimes - the ACLU does not aid Catholics or take up Catholic Civil Rights) and Custom. It is as American as defending Flag Burners and Late Night TV Monologues.

Bill Maher is not witty or really all that funny, but he is outrageously loud.

May 2002:


"I have hated the Church way before anyone else. I have been pounding religion for nine years on this show."
"... I offer this modest proposal that the Catholic Church just drop the pretense and just go gay. Just come out of the confessional. Preach the sermon on the mountain. Embrace it. Let the straight people be Baptists. It's high time you gay Catholics stood up and announced to the world, 'We're here, we're queer, get Eucharist.'"

That's a giggle? Billy. A bit puffed-up with smarmy self-importance, but not much funny. Now get this.


Bill Maher hated the Catholic Church before any one else.

Really? More than Oliver Cromwell? Who, when asked if Catholic children should be burned along the with the adults in Drogheda Cathedral in 1649, answered, 'Nits breed lice.' Oliver Cromwell would have been a great help to the Japanese during the Rape of Nanking. It was Cromwell who sent the thousands of Irish Catholics to the Caribbean as slave; hence all the Islanders with names like Patrick, Desmond, and Colin - Mahn. As James Joyce said in Ullyses, "What about sanctimonious Cromwell and his ironsides that put the women and children of Drogheda to the sword with the bible text God is love pasted round the mouth of his cannon?"

Sanctimonious Bill Maher, you hated the Catholic Church more than Pastor Charlie Chiniquy? More than the only American Apostate Charles Chiniquy who blamed Lincoln's assasination on the Jesuits? He would have fit in on Real Time. Check Chuck out!

"Long before I was ordained a priest, I knew that my church was the most implacable enemy of this republic. My professors … had been unanimous in telling me that the principles and laws of the Church of Rome were absolutely antagonistic to the principles which are the foundation stones of the Constitution of the United States of America." Charles Chiniquy 1809-1899


Here's more Maher-bles that Billy lost:

February 2005:


"We are a nation that is unenlightened because of religion. I do believe that. I think that religion stops people from thinking. I think it justifies crazies. I think flying planes into a building was a faith-based initiative. I think religion is a neurological disorder. If you look at it logically, it's something that was drilled into your head when you were a small child. It certainly was drilled into mine at that age. And you really can't be responsible when you are a kid for what adults put into your head."
"When you look at beliefs in such things as, do you go to heaven, is there a devil, we have more in common with Turkey and Iran and Syria than we do with European nations and Canada and nations that, yes, I would consider more enlightened than us."-MSNBC's Scarborough Country interview with Maher

April 2005:


"For those who did not make the funeral, the Vatican has asked that in lieu of flowers, just stop touching your d---."
"People waited in line for 24 hours to see the pope's body and when they got to see the pope, they smelled worse than he did."

May 2007:


"And it's easy to start a religion! Watch, I'll do it for you: I had a vision last night! A vision! The Blessed Virgin Mary came to me - I don't know how she got past the guards - and she told me it's high time to take the high ground from the Seventh Day Adventists and give it to the 24-hour party people. And what happens in the confessional stays in the confessional. Gay men, don't say you're life partners; say you're a nunnery of two. 'We weren't having sex, officer, I was performing a very private Mass, here in my car. I was letting my rod and staff comfort him. Take this and eat of it, for this is my roommate Barry. And for all those who believe, there is a special place for you in Kevin.'"

January 2008:


"You can't be a rational person six days of the week and put on a suit and make rational decisions and go to work and, on one day of the week, go to a building and think you're drinking the blood of a 2,000-year-old space god. That doesn't make you a person of faith ... that makes you a schizophrenic."
"...UFOs are a lot more likely than a space god [that] flew down bodily and you know who was the Son of God and you know had sex with a Palestinian woman..."

America is a tolerant land. This punk still has his teeth.

Bill Maher is what being an asshole is all about.