Morgan Park/Beverly Welcomes Home 2-24 USMC

from left to right: 2/24 Commanding Officer during OIF, LtCol Mark A. Smith, SgtMaj Gary L. Payne and a civilian interpreter. (Note the Mad Ghost logo painted on the HMMWV.)

Welcome Home! The Businesses on Western Avenue - Mr. Swifty Cleaners, DiCola's Fish, McNalley's Pub, Stadium Club, the Comic Book Store on 111th Street in Mount Greenwood, Kean Gas, Keegan's Pub, Computer Bay have signage honoring your service!

Mike Hughes
Jim Kelly
Nick Parker
Bob Carroll
John Folliard

On Saturday August 23rd, the neighborhood will welcome home five Marines from duty in Iraq. The are members of the 2nd Battalion, Twenty Fourth Marines ( 2-24) 'Chicago's Own' - here is a little about their service from the Battalion Website

Chicago's Own was mobilized again in June 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The battalion trained at Camp Pendleton until August of that year when they relocated to Mahmudiyah, in the North Babil Province of Iraq, an area known as the "Triangle of Death". The battalion was engaged in intense combat operations against members of the Iraqi insurgency. [2] 2/24 made Marine Corps history when they became the first reserve infantry battalion of OIF to operate independently, isolated on its own forward operating base.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner John F. Burns, the Chief Foreign Correspondent of the New York Times described his time spent with 2/24 this way: "A week with the 2/24 Marines at their bases 15 to 30 miles south of Baghdad, in the heart of the area known as the Triangle of Death, was a window on the demands being made of reservists, and on the resourcefulness and resilience they bring to the challenges. There is little they cannot do, with hard work and improvisation, the battalion's officers say, reflecting the widely varied backgrounds of the men in the Chicago-based unit - doctors, policemen[3], engineers, teachers, carpenters, truck drivers, lawyers, computer specialists, community counselors, college students, to name a few." [4]

After establishing additional strong points in the area, working closely with the Iraqi Army and Police, providing security for the first-ever open democratic elections in Iraq and arresting over 1,000 suspected insurgents (with an incredibly high conviction rate,) 2/24 returned to California in March 2005. They deactivated in May 2005.

In March 2006, elements of 2/24 participated in Operation Shared Accord in Niger. The Marines taught basic military tactics to groups of soldiers from the Forces Armees Nigeriennes and also provided humanitarian support to some of Niger's neediest citizens. In May 2006, Echo Company of 2/24 participated in Operation Noble Shirley in Israel by conducting desert warfare and joint counter-terrorism training with the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF].

On September 10th, 2007, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines were once again activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and relocated to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. The battalion began another tour in Iraq beginning in January 2008 and operated in the vicinity of Habbaniyah, operating out of base formerly known as RAF Habbaniya. On August 10, 2008 they turned over their area of operations to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and returned stateside in late August.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Battalion_24th_Marines


Your Families, Friends and Neighbors bid you -'Welcome Home!'

Olbermann Takes Credit for Maddow: 'WayTaGO Butch!'

Olbermann, the bloated basso-asso of MSNBC- The Tool Shed, is taking credit for the posting of Rachel 'Butch' Maddow to her own show - 'Bullish on America?' Mayhaps? Hmmm.

Nevertheless, Fat Boy Olbermann, the bigger half of the Tubby and Butch Countdown segment oozed the news to the Daily Kos crowd. Olbermann's Oil Can Harry routine has helped push John McCain's numbers up past Obama. He is not the biggest A$$hole in America but he'll do.

Maddow's show will tank before Obama loses the 40 States to McCain in the biggest landslide in electoral history. She replaces Kid Nepotism Dan Abrams - who has a job for life so long as his Pappy jots out the billable hours for the Peacock.

Remember, MSNBC- The Tool Shed, Huffington Post, Daily Kos, Moveon.org, Hollywood, and so many others have contributed to this massive political implosion. Never have some millions of dollars been wasted on so few votes. They have all been great.

Keith there is no 'I' in Morons - there is one in Idiots, nice work, Son!

God Bless You, Tubby and Butch!

Chicago's Own - 2-24 USMC: Welcome Home! A Cause Greater Than Ourselves Met By Four Kids from St. Cajetan's Parish

On August 23rd, five heroes return from long and bloody service in Iraq will be welcomed home by their families, friends and neighbors on Western Ave. - already Mr. Swifty, McNally's, County Fair, Di Cola's Fish, Computer Bay and others have placed up public signs in their support. You gotta love this neighborhood! Welcome Home to:

Mike Hughes
Jim Kelly
Bob Carroll
Nick Parker
John Folliard

. . . all Marines of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines.* Our young men will be greeted down Western Ave. - their hometown mainstreet. These five heroes are members of St. Cajetan's Parish! There are Yellow Ribbons all over this neighborhood in Morgan Park of Chicago. God Bless You, Marines!


*The origin of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, "Chicago's own" can be traced back to the establishment of the 9th Reserve Battalion in 1922. They were mobilized in November 1940 as part of the preparation for World War II. Many of Chicago's reservists became part of the newly founded 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force.

John McCain; Meghan McCain's Kid's Book Bio of Her Hero Dad

Meghan McCain is coming out with a illustrated book for kids - illustratred graphic novel for Obama supporters soon to follow?( 'Mom! It's not s stupid Comic Book! It's Novel! Illustrated. Get Off my back! Vote for that Old Man - go ahead. Obama understands me. Is my Pop Tart ready yet?') Meghan McCain's book is aimed at 5-10 year old citizens voters to be.

Speaking of books and Libraries - I wonder how long it will take for the Tribune to issue a suit against UICC- to free up the Annenberg Chicago Challenge Papers. They had no such tardiness getting Obama's Senate rival GOPer Jack Ryan tuned up over his divorce papers and UICC is a tax-payer funded institution. I have had plantar's warts go away quicker.

Well done

http://www.amazon.com/My-Dad-John-McCain-Meghan/dp/1416975284

Jonathan Alter: Obama's Chicago Attack Dachshund: 'They Bring a Knife; We Bring Nice Schmear!"

"When oppo* goes transparent, it might shrivel." Jonathan Alter

I had to read that again. Oppo? Isn't that Greek for Holy $hit the Cheese is on Fire!'

No.

It means political opposition research. Barack Obama's Newsweek, MSNBC, NBC, Daily Kos, Huffington Post ( now with a hilarious assortment of Chicago dweebs attempting to say something) is what Progressive 'Oppo' is all about. Jonathan Alter, a Lakeview Lad from the Lincoln Park -in shade of Old Town at sunset - is a Chicago street tough giving John McCain, that mean old man, genuine talking to:

McCain's campaign theme is that he puts the country first and Obama puts himself above his country. It's understandable why this son and grandson of admirals--who has served his country in one way or another since he was 18-years-old, who has never been on a private payroll beyond that of his beer distributor father-in-law--would see himself as someone who puts "America first." He has been a largely honorable public servant for 54 years, and it's acceptable within the confines of sharp debate to portray his opponent as a self-regarding celebrity.

Owwwww. That pinch hurts. Jonny Boy! Thank God you didn't tickle him. It is nice to see that Chicago Style - translated in Progressive - means bringing just the right weapons to war.

Chicago Progressive Jonathan Alter:

You wanna know how to get McCain? They pull a knife, you bring a nice schmear: a nice organic peanut butter, some herbed cream cheese. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the Day Spa - Kiva is nice. *That's* the *Chicago* way! And that's how you get McCain - act like snitches and suck-ups, whine often that is how you get attention - it got me to Harvard. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that? I'm offering you a deal. Do you want this deal?


I hope that John McCain sends a nice thank you note to Jonathan - in calligraphy on good gold gilded stock. It is the little things that mean so much - to the really mean.



*
Opposition research (often referred to as oppo) is:

The term used to classify and describe efforts of supporters or paid consultants of a political candidate to legally investigate the biographical, legal or criminal, medical, educational, financial, public and private administrative and or voting records of the opposing candidate,as well as prior media coverage. The research is usually conducted in the time period between announcement of intent to run and the actual election; however political parties maintain long-term databases that can cover several decades. The practice is both a tactical maneuver and a cost-saving measure.[1]
Opposition research may also refer to illegal or unethical means of gathering potentially damaging information on candidates, such as accessing credit reports, wiretapping, theft of files, hacking computer files, and interviewing ex-spouses.
"Vulnerability studies" occur in the 'prebuttal' phase of campaign development, when a candidate's political consultants will amass files of potentially damaging information on their own clients, to prepare pre-emptive strategies for rebuttal at a later date.
Research conducted, at the request of an incumbent office-holder, often by the same staff who conducted campaign research, against political opponents or dissenters. The Hatch Act of 1939 prohibits the use of public office for partisan political advocacy, but often the same staff who once researched private information about opponents are placed in positions of proximity to confidential government files.
Research on the activities of opponents conducted on behalf of advocacy groups, political action committees, churches, labor unions, management of corporations, or sports teams,[citation needed]as well as private individuals. Opposition researchers may work exclusively for one candidate or many, one group, or many groups that share ideologies and financial interests, or the highest bidder. Opposition research has also played a role in confirmation of nominees to the Supreme Court, and other presidential appointments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_research

Olbermann Watch - So You Don't Have To!

As I predicted MSNBC's Ovaltine Fueled Fat Boy- Keith Olbermann and his trusted sidekick Rachel 'Butch' Maddow kicked up the Kitty Litter over the Saddleback Forum.
MSNBC- McCain Shall Not Be Considered - pays Keith Olbermann huge amounts of money and strokes Maddow with promises of power to come, so long as they bitch and whine in mirror image of their target audience - soul-patched Cliffs Note Readers and their chicks.

I used to do the kids's ironing during Countdown, but now I watch Intervention or Orangutan Island thanks to the good folks at Olbermann Watch. They watch Olbermann so I don't need to and they give me an update on Tubby and Butch's daily carryings-on and what-nots!

Click my post title and link to Olbermann Watch - they do -that other don't have to.

Talk about jumping on grenades! God Bless these Heroes!

John McCain: Obama Campaign Turns Saddleback into Whine Country

I thought that Senator Obama turned in a fine performance on Friday night and then his Campaign went all nut-bag Progressive - you know the squeal - mincingly childish; snitch-addicted; Jello-spined; twerpy; in short, pure and undilutedly authentic whiners.

The stooging Peacock NBC International was the primary horn blown by the Obama Campaign when McCain out shined the well-packaged Senator Obama.

Andrea Mitchell spiked the punch.

Mitchell reported that some "Obama people" were suggesting "that McCain may not have been in the cone of silence and may have had some ability to overhear what the questions were to Obama. He seemed so well prepared."

A McCain aide said that is not the case: "Senator McCain was in a motorcade led by the United States Secret Service and held in a green room with no broadcast feed.Mitchell made the comment in the context of saying McCain did better, and that the Obama camp was defensive. In response to the campaign's letter, she pointed out that journalists get criticism from both sides.
"

I could almost hear the exchange between Andrea and the goof sent by Dave Axelrod:

'Andrea, Johnny Mac cheated! Quick, Woman! We need Change! Help Us( Team Dean & etc.)Change Washington Andrea! Sean Hanity! Have you Read Cone? Have You Read Cone? Have You Red Cone? Red Cone? Where were we Andrea? I just pulled that one out of Howard Dean's Race Cards. Sorry. Reading the wrong talking-points. Let's Blue Points . . .nope. Here we go! BTW, That was in reference to Rev. Wright's explanation of Liberation Theology, remember that Andrea? Well, forget it! Never happened. Here we are . . . Cheat Snitching ( Camp Obama 101: by Bob 'Check Kite Runner' Creamer - Cry Hoodwinked! Andrea, Help us Change the Planet! Help us Change Barack's downward spiral!'


Wait until, Team Peacock's Uber-Doofus Olbermann and his twin Rachel Maddow get Soupy Sales Tag-team at MSNBC-The Tool Shed stoked for thought offal tonight. The Cone of Silence bilge will cascade from Keith's cliff of nonsense.

Senator Obama is tanking.

Click my post title for the NBC bells and whistles. GE - what a bunch of whiny twerps!

John McCain: The Saddleback Mountain Trio - Trip Aces Up!

Listening to the Saddleback Forum was a great experience for this voter. Senator Obama confirmed his grace; John McCain burnished his credentials to be President of the United States and Pastor Rick Warren schooled the Talking Heads of Cable and the Networks on how to conduct contol of an intelligent, witty, incisive and satisfying forum for candidates to the most important Office in the Free World.

Time's Mark Halperin gave both Candidates a well-deserved A- Composite Grade, but Summa Cum Laude praise goes to the man who devloped, hosted and conducted the best political forum that I have ever heard.

Rev. Rick Warren stole the show!

Click my post title for Mark Halperin's analysis. Below please find Rick Halperin's score card.

Authority:

Obama: B+
McCain: A-

Clarity:

Obama: A-
McCain: B+

Credibility:

Obama: A-
McCain: B+

Audience reaction:

Obama: B+
McCain: A-

Overall:

Obama: A-
McCain: A-

Illinois' s Tom Roeser - Authentic

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble. Samuel Johnson ( 1709 -1784)

We must be authentic. We should not wish to be like anyone else but be true to ourselves. Tough business.

Principles, ethics, integrity, commonsense and authenticity are the core values that tend to make us act better toward one another and they are the roots by which we too often fabricate an artificial framework from which we operate. I tend to dodge and hide from what I know needs to be done in keeping with what I hold to be true.

'I am a Catholic'

'Go to Mass, Yesterday?'

'No, why?'

'It was a Holy day of Obligation ( Catholics should go to Mass - Feast of the Assumption ( August 15th The Dormition of the Theokotos to Greek & Eastern Rite Catholics) - The Mother of God was Assumed into Heaven; thus, avoiding natural decay of the Body - we say we believe that this is Doctrine)

'My Kids wanted to go to the Air and Water Show after I got off of work.'

'I see.' Yes, Sir, that Hickey is one Fine Catholic!

Yep, so much for core principles reflected in my outer deportment. We Compromise. Rather, we Kop a Plea, more often than not. I am conflicted ( 24/7), I should be rejoicing every time a former bust-out lawyer who woke up one day and found that there is Gold in suing an entire Religion - Catholic - but I really can not. I hate pedophile priests, but I also hate ambulance chasers making millions off of the Clergy Abuse Scandal. They can sue the Catholic Church, no worry. The Catholic Church is an easy target, especially when a Progressive Media has an opportunity to howl and harrumph all high and mighty at the Church's expense, while ignoring any and all other institutions plagued with pedophiles, or citing get-rich-quick opportunists - fair is fair, and completely absent with the Media. The Ambulance Chasers and ther media stooges have no such luck when it comes to suing a Public School District when Coach Grabowski makes the same play for a child as Father Peckerphile. The Trial lawyers have a gren light suing the Catholic Church, but they can not do the same against a Public School District, or a Fire Department, or the Cook County Clerk's Office. They would not want to sue a black preacher's Church, for example the the celebrated and long forgotten Rev. Paul Hall - bad Progressive Juju that.

We learn to develop our behavioral patterns early in life and the more blessed of us have had great people to emulate. The woman who raised four daughters on a teacher's salary and sent them all to Ivy League Schools on Scholarships after her husband took off with another woman and looted their savings always brings tears to my eyes, when I remember her struggles in Kankakee in 1970's.

Progressives invent icons. People emulate real people.

I look to people like my Dad and my uncles as examples of Authentic behavior. My Uncle Bud once welded shut the incinerator at Cook County Hospital used to burn fetuses, while he was Chief Engineer there. He stared down Cook County President George Dunne - George Dunne caved and later appointed him Chief Engineer for all of Cook County. That was in the days before the Progressive took root and elected officials with steel spines could tell the activists to go piss up a rope.

In Public life, Illinois is blessed with Mr. Tom Roeser - a walking Renaissance Man: Publisher, Lecturer, Author, Radio Host, Raconteur, Government Man, Corporate Man, Catholic and American Patriot.


I find no one coming close to matching the 18th Century genius ( compiled the 1st English Dictionary) Poet, Wit, Essayist and Patriot - Dr. Samuel Johnson - with sole exception of Mr. Tom Roeser.

If you want to know what authentic means, talk with, or better yet, read Tom Roeser. Click my post title for what I consider to be one of Mr. Roeser's finest and most authentic pieces - a criticism of Democrat and Republican Catholic Hairsplitters on Abortion and the parsing away of integrity by too many of us. Tom Roeser holds on to Authenticity and has become the encorpified litmus test to living a good, productive, and sharing life. Be authentic, dodge not, and you will have no problem with Mr. Roeser, be you conservative, liberal, Marxist, Catholic, Orhodox or Reform Jew. Be what you are about, or save it for the tourists. Tom Roeser lives here!

Tom Roeser has more close friends than any person I know and many of those friends differ with Tom on religion, politics, music, liturgy, or most anything. I have been blessed with his friendship. Tom, like all great people, sets the bar a little higher for us. The True test of Love and Affection is to be found in our individual willingness to expect that our friends to live authentic lives - void of sham and cant and nonsense.

Tom Roeser makes all of us do spot checks on our unique Authenticities. Roeser on behavior is like Sterling on Silver - to snatch thought from the old Wanzer Milk ads.

Tom Roeser - Authentic.





Authenticity - refers to the truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions.

Tom Roeser is a Chicago-based conservative writer and broadcaster, currently broadcasting on WLS 890 AM talk radio. [1]

Roeser is a former fellow of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard [2], former vice president of Public Affairs at the Quaker Oats Company [3], former Woodrow Wilson International Fellow at Princeton, and former Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at Roosevelt University, Chicago. He is a Senior Fellow of The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based free market-oriented think-tank[4].


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Roeser

Hickey on Religion and Politics - Mutatis Mutandis

Arguments concerning Religion and Politics often lead to hurtful ( that is a neologism employed by dedicated Victimization disciples that I never can get too much of) disagreements, increased by the level of volume between antagonists and in some lustier quarters to violent dental rearrangements.

There are some saloons that enforce 'No Politics, Religion, or Baseball' prohibitions and with very good reason.

In the late 19th Century, immigrant saloons were places where coreligionists who usually shared a common language and national identity and fellow Labor activists could vent, free of prying ears of the bosses, the strikebreakers, company goons and the cops. The neighborhood ethnic saloon went the way of growler, the pail purchased for carryout beer, and every social gathering, bar, or kitchen table became a Free Speech Bug House Square. Not only that, with the inculturation of television, radio and the Internet, the airwaves and the cyberspace became an atmosphere thick with opinion: Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow & etc.!

In happier times, a butt-in-ski from Hyde Park, or Mount Greenwood, wedging his way into a conversation ( having his ear on a stick) about the efficacy of training and funding a Ukrainian Air Corps for service against Czarist and later Soviet Russia would find himself on the curb at Chicago Ave. & Bell minus dentation. Thus, the price of Freedom of Speech - or the Freedom of Interruption was exercised with strong imperative.

I am voting for John McCain. To some folks that means that I must be a racist, right-wing, war mongering lout. For sure! I'm loutish at times - picked my teeth with a plastic dental instrument publicly in the Pump Room in the company of a beautiful woman after a fine meal. Lout! You bet. Racist? Arguable, I have the pedigree as a white, Irish Catholic. Right Wing? I voted Democratic in every election from 1972 until the Illinois Primary last February. War-monger? I am as yellow as a Duck's foot, but am more than willing to support the police and the military to keep America's enemies and from all Americans. I think PC in might and main is silly and snotty enforced and dictated by the really silly and snotty; I tend to be a devout sexist who worships the superior gender; I believe, based on empirical observation that most public servants work very, very hard and for the best of reasons- they help other people and we never read about them or hear about them in the media. I hate abortion and all of its dodges. Choice means school vouchers. The true test of all government is in the application of protecting the innocent(children especially) and tested - our elderly - everything else is up for a screaming argument.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth . . . but, what someone else chooses to believe does not keep me awake at night and I tend to be more than willing to accept my place in God's ordered universe. Cosmologically - I believe that someone greater put things in motion; Teleologically - I witnessed the passing of generational faith from one set in the family to another and have met living saints who fulfilled the Christian imperatives, while raising the ethical bar higher than my own dwarfish grasp; Morally - I have faith that most people lead good lives that help people who have less in life, need more attention, and require greater efforts from others to help make them safe and secure. While I like to think that I am the center of the universe, experience teaches otherwise- dammit!

Happiness? That's up to the individual. If I am unhappy - not even close - that is my T.S.! The first words of counsel that I recall came from my Parents, Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts,Cousins, and close Friends - the only people who really matter in this life - the next one is to be determined without my say-so, but what I have done, do and will do ( scary thought that) - were 'Too bad about you!'

So much for the warm embrace of Entitlements.

We are on our own as the atheists would tell us - but we are obligated to those who have cared, nurtured, taught, protected and loved us. Which kind of negates the first argument altogether.

Politics teaches us - or should teach us - how to act in a way to make things better for others. Religion teaches us how to do that.

I expect this violation of the rule in the better saloons will no doubt lead to a few of my metaphorical buckers getting a loosening.

Kanye West Fatburger in Orland Park and Irish Beverly! No Food Deserts Here!

And you thought all Kanye cared about was the music (and the award shows, and the Kanye). Next month, in the southwest suburban community of Orland Park, Kanye West will open the first Chicago area Fatburger, Chicago Business reported Tuesday. They failed to mention that, with this announcement, many displaced Californians wept in relief (and anticipation). Indeed, his company, KW Foods LLC, is licensed to open 10 Fatburgers in the Chicago area. The first will open in September at 15110 S. La Grange Rd (the opening date is not yet set); and the second Fatburger will open in January in the Beverly neighborhood; and the third – well, they have a location, but not a lease quite yet.

At this point you might be wondering: What exactly is this Fatburger? And why might Kanye West have an intense interest in Fatburger? I have a few answers: Out west – the chain is based in Santa Monica – Fatburger (“The Last Great Hamburger Stand”) is nothing less than a culinary religion. There is the immortal In-N-Out Burger (which comes in a wrapper, for cleaner, tidier eating, and which does not have plans to open in Chicago), and there is the Fatburger (with burgers larger than an Easter Island noggin) -- and which is better is a legendary ongoing debate. I have eaten at both, and I have lived to tell about it, and my vote goes with Fatburger. I am not alone: Notorious B.I.G. extolled the virtues of Fatburger in song. So did the Beastie Boys. And so did Ice Cube. Will you? And while you’re at it – what hamburger chain that is not yet in Chicago would you like to see come to Chicago?

AP photo

Yep, that's pretty much it: the award shows, and the Kanye - not much changed here.

Question: Kanye, why not help the tax-base in Auburn Gresham, Roseland, Grand Crossing or Chatham? Kids from our own Leo High School, Our Lady of Calumet High School, Simeon and Morgan Park High Schools are always looking for after school employment and a good wholesome 'bit of tucker' after football practice. What gives? Why serve only the white demographic? Better watch out for Rev. Al Sharpton's tongue lashing, Son! But Kanye, you're from Chicago, you know the score.

This is all about the buckos - disposable income & etc. You really could do some good in neighborhoods that are only identified by gun violence and the funerals of CPS kids.* A Fatburger in these neighborhoods just might offer some opportunity and some hope - but, that would be for other people and not the Kanye. Oh, well.

Maybe, Kanye is looking to score huge during the pub crawl season prior to and after St. Paddy's Day - stoking the false hungers of Irish Wannabees who bus down to Western Ave. and get their Irish Freaks On - drinking more than they should and turning over City floral planters. That does call for a Fatburger.

However, the local competition is fierce from Sean's Rhino Bar, Grants Wonder Burger, The Legendary Top-Notch,Fat Tommie's, Pops's Marco's, and the homeric bar burgers at Cullinan's Stadium Club, Jackie Casto's Ken's, Corrigans, Ritchie's and Quigley's Pubs. All superior Burger purveyors with fiercely loyal followings.

Beverly is no Burger Desert, there Kanye. Over East and North of Irish Beverly, one is lucky to find anything but a very few fast food chains and low-end take away dinning out of paper bags. For real.

Now, 151st & LaGrange Road? Ah, yes. Mallrats from the 'Burbs.


* from today's Tribune:

Two men were shot and severely wounded early Thursday morning on Chicago's South Side, police said.

The victims, ages 25 and 26, were shot in the 7700 block of South Marshfield Avenue shortly before 1 a.m.

The 26-year-old suffered multiple bullet wounds, including at least one to the neck. He was reported in critical condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. The 25-year-old also suffered multiple wounds and was reported in serious condition at an area hospital.

One of the victims was believed to have gang affiliations, police said, but it's unclear if the shooting was gang-related.

Cowboy Blago: Not Duke - He's From 'Blazing Saddles!' and certainly not the Guv.

John Kass is correct - there is a combine and Gov. Blago is no John Wayne. But just who might the Haircut that Talks be from the wonderful world of the movies?

BoingKKKKKK! Blazing Saddles!!!! Nope not Hedley LaMarre; Not Mongo; not Lily Vpn Schtuppe; not Governor LePetomane!

Blago is Lyle - Mr. Taggert's evil and racist henchman with the great hair!

Pictured above singing 'Camptown Ladies' with verve and bounce!

MSNBC: Olbermann & Maddow Melt-down - Tubby and Butch at DefCon 6

Brad Wilmouth at NewsBusters reports on the MSNBC Meltdown with Keith Olbermann.

Tubby and Butch are hard at it - righting the deck chairs on the listing ship of fools that is and has been MSNBC or McCain Shall Not Be Considered.

From the start of this Presidential Campaign MSNBC has leagued with Daily Kos and Huffington Post to prop up the limited resume and gravitas of Senator Obama's run for the White House and Verdict has been dismal for the Peacock.

Here is a baseball card collector and a class snitch's take on the Russian Invasion of Georgia.


OLBERMANN: All right. Both McCain and Obama made statements today. Obama coming off that, what is now, a semi-vacation I suppose. Apart from the policy particulars, what was the difference in the approach? What do we hear about the, see about these two men just based on how they took to their podiums today?

MADDOW: What was striking is how consistent McCain is being toward Russia. He's taken every opportunity on foreign policy in this campaign to take a confrontational stance toward Russia. And so, as this war has erupted, and as the international community and Senator Obama are reacting by saying this war needs to be brought to a very swift end, this needs to be worked out in ways other than through force, the international community needs to be united to stop this and to solve these problems in ways other than they're being addressed right now; McCain, instead, is plowing ahead with this "Confront Russia, confront Russia, confront Russia." This is an extension of him wanting to throw Russia out of the G8 and the other sort of belligerent statements he's made there. I don't exactly know how he plans to back up these threats, but he's sticking with this confrontation plan.

OLBERMANN: Well, to that point, though, when it becomes obvious that there's nothing with which to back these threats up, given how, essentially impotent we have been rendered, militarily, put on politically by President Bush, what sense does saber rattling by McCain actually make if it is given a second thought by a voter or just a citizen?

MADDOW: Yes, well, it sounds good at first pass, which I think is what he's counting on. I think he's counting on Americans not being totally clear on the idea that Georgia's a country and not just a state. I think he's counting on the idea that when America wants to be tough, that we would use our military in every instance.

Honestly, what I think this brings into very sharp relief is how scary the prospect of a continued Bush foreign policy is -- because right now, we could be doing something if the idea of American diplomacy and American international leadership, and American moral authority were something other than a punch line. Then, we really could be doing something here. But because we don't have any of those assets at our disposable anymore after eight years of what the Bush administration has done to them, we're left with this empty, "We'll find a combat brigade somewhere" rattling that everybody knows is bluster.

OLBERMANN: Right. It's the line from King Lear. "I'm "I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to avenge myself on you, but I'll think of something really mean."

MADDOW: Yeah.

Tubby, You Culture Vulture! Actually it is: "I will do such things--
- ''What they are, yet I know not,
but they shall be the terrors of the earth." . . . But what the heck, Yeah. Thought the virile Maddow would have had the lines at fingertip. Rhodes Scholarships must be easy to snag with the right clout and a deft scribble or two on the old boilerplate.

John McCain: School Choice or William Ayers, Secretary of Education

Investors Business Daily cites concerns about Sen. Obama's Education Agenda - and with good reason.

Here in Illinois, Obama Illinois Senate colleague, Rev./Senator James Meeks pushed his redistribution of wealth scam on ABC Chicago affiliate WLS TV (7) during a Sunday talk show in which he advocated that Chicago Public Schools(CPS) 'fudge the numbers' in reporting attendance to the Illinois Funding for School Districts. In Illinois funding is based upon attendance and James Meeks called for CPS students to ditch school on the first day of class.

Obama opposes Choice in Education, but is a powerful advocate of Abortion - Obama's Choice.


John McCain is for School Choice ( Vouchers) and opposes Abortion.

Today, Investors Business Daily gets to root of Obama's problem - nationally, locally and personally - he is joined at the hip to people like William Ayers. He used to bomb buildings and now he bombs education.He's the son of a powerful and wealthy man - therefore any and all crimes are forgiven by Progressives.

Here is powerful insight in the IBD piece:

Obama's buddy, former Weatherman terrorist William Ayers, has plans for the same captive student audiences Obama wants to keep captive. Now a tenured Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of Illinois, Chicago, Ayers works to educate teachers in socialist revolutionary ideology, urging that it be passed on to impressionable students.

One of Ayers' descriptions for a course called "Improving Learning Environments" says a prospective K-12 teacher needs to "be aware of the social and moral universe we inhabit and . . . be a teacher capable of hope and struggle, outrage and action, teaching for social justice and liberation."

For his course "Urban Education," Ayers writes: "In a truly just society, there would be a greater sharing of the burden, a fairer distribution of material and human resources."

All of this sounds like Obama's plans for "economic justice" and redistribution of the nation's wealth.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has employed Ayers as a teacher trainer for the city's public schools. On his Web site, Obama describes Ayers as a "tenured professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a 'respected advisor to Mayor Daley on school reform.' "

And a future secretary of education, perhaps?

The Choice is Clear!

Olbermann & Maddow: Tubby and Butch - The Bradberry Fumbling Witnesses to a Bar Beating: We are to blame for Russia's Invasion?

The World was appalled when a lard assed drunk cop beat a tiny Polish bartender while two bar patrons fumbled with their Bradberry Pocket communicators, for refusing to serve him more drinks. A near three-hundred pound life-long bully who managed to snare a job as a Chicago Policeman became the focus of the media. Not for being a coward and a violently self-absorbed drunk, but to toss dirt on all police officers. The Media, it seems to most Americans, rarely 'gets it.'

The World's Three Hundred Pound Vodka-fueled bully, Putin's Kleptocracy, Russia invaded Democratic Georgia, bombed its air-fields and threatened energy delicate Europe ( Most of Europe's natural gas comes from Putin's Russia) into silence.

Here in America, our self-absorbed fat-asses on MSNBC, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, blamed Putin-Russia's bar-bullying on . . .get this . . .America.

Keith Olbermann is Pee Wee Herman of thought. Rachel Maddow is loud, self-centered and oily Honors Student in every English teacher's Advanced Placement course. As Granpa Hickey would say, "She's More of Man Than Your Mother!"

Take a peek at the Doublemint Twins of Duplicity on MSNBC ( McCain Shall Not Be Considered) - The Tool Shed!

Click my post title for these two losers.

John McCain: SEIU - Revolutionary Corruption!

Andy Stern oversees the Redistribution of Wealth agenda operated by SEIU. Barack Obama depends upon SEIU and every bit of advice and approval Andy Stern and Obama Economics Adviser SEIU Anna Burger offer.

Andy Stern's and picked L.A. SEIU chief oversees the redistribution of contributions from the rank-and-file.

The Los Angeles-based union, which represents low-wage caregivers, also spent nearly $300,000 last year on a Four Seasons Resorts golf tournament, a Beverly Hills cigar club, restaurants such as Morton's steakhouse and a consulting contract with the William Morris Agency, the Hollywood talent shop, records show.



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In addition, the union paid six figures to a video firm whose principals include a former union employee. And a now-defunct minor league basketball team coached by the president's brother-in-law received $16,000 for what the union described as public relations, according to the union's U.S. Labor Department filings and interviews.

Most of the 160,000 people represented by the union, a local chapter of the nation's fastest-growing labor organization, the Service International Employees Union, earn $9 an hour or slightly more tending to the infirm and disabled in private homes under taxpayer-funded programs. The workers, whose dues fill the local's coffers, often are described as "the poor caring for the poor." In its Labor Department filings, the local, headed by Tyrone Freeman, has reported more liabilities than assets for each of the last three years.

This clown could make a Cook County elected crook blush with shame - for not stealing everything.


Now that's not Chump Change You Can Believe In!

John McCain: Obamanomics by SEIU's Andy Stern

SEIU is a leftist troika that poses as a labor union. SEIU is run by a Leftist Social Worker whose 1960's radicalism found a profitable and powerful home in a labor union that expands membership numbers, intimidates gutless politicians, and operates the most massive redistribution of wealth scam in America. 1-2-3- that's how you dance to a troika -1. Expand 2.Intimidate 3. Redistribute Wealth!

Taking over the weak and corrupt janitors union in Chicago in the 1970's, Andy Stern and fellow University of Pennsylvannia School Social Work colleague Anna Burger help radicalize and consolidate locals of building janitors, bringing thousands of unskilled to low skilled health care industry workers, security guard locals, menial office task workers and others into a political intimidation political action force.

Using a very complicit and lazy news media, Andy Stern deftly crafted a cult of personality unparalleled since Mao. The Purple Gang of hundreds of thousands of low-skill to no skill workers intimidated their way into public service employees and nearly match AFCME in tax-payer salaried workers. If you are somewhat taken aback by my analysis of the threat that I see from SEIU, please do take a look at Andy Stern's frequent trips to Red China and read Newsweeks's glwoing accounts of Stern's agenda to help one of the most oppresive regimes on the planet 'control their workers.' Take a look at Andy Stern's similar control that he exercises over local SEIU 'thought criminals.' Andy gets great PR from the press and the other mediums, but occasionally the real story gets out.

Like this one:

Sal Rosselli had been hardened by nearly three decades of front-line unionism. Time and again he staged insurgent organizing drives and do-or-die strikes, staring down major corporations. Now he blinked away tears as he huddled with supporters in his Oakland headquarters, a sooty-windowed, bunker-like building strewn with leaflets and picket signs, a place suddenly under siege.

Rosselli was describing his latest battle, his toughest ever: a face-off against a comrade in struggle, Andrew Stern, whom many view as the most powerful labor leader in America.

The two are locked in a nasty, often personal fight over how to make the nation's fastest-growing union -- 1.9 million members -- even bigger. Stern, its president, has sought more common ground with employers as a means to unionize entire industries. Rosselli believes building membership first requires getting the best deal for workers already under labor's tent.

"If you stick your head up, if you question what he's doing, you'll get whacked," said Rosselli, 58, head of the second-largest California chapter of Stern's union.

Wiping his eyes, he insisted that Stern, through a trusteeship, is determined to oust him from his elected post as part of a long push to centralize authority.

Stern and his allies in the Service Employees International Union dismiss the allegations and downplay the significance of the rift.

"It's not open warfare, it's a debate," said Pennsylvania union official Thomas De Bruin.

"It's David and Goliath," Rosselli said.

http://theunionnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/seiu-andy-stern-is-issue.html

SEIU was solidly behind John Edwards. Edwards tanked. SEIU is solidly behind Obama.

Anna Burger sits on Obama's Economic Advisory Board. A radical Marxist is telling Obam how to shape America's economic path.

Obama like Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick from whom Obama crafts many of his rhetorical hits in the media, depends upon Andy and SEIU.

Andy Stern is making sure that Race is the pivot point of Obama's Campaign.

Leaders of the AFL-CIO met this week in Chicago to decide how to deploy some 250,000 volunteers and more than $250 million for its grass-roots campaign on behalf of Obama and 500 Democratic candidates vying for other posts.

The fast-growing Service Employees International Union, which has successfully organized lower-wage workers, has $85 million to spend. The AFL-CIO said it has set aside its rivalry with the SEIU and other unions that left to form their own labor federation in 2005.

CONFRONT RACISM

Unions pride themselves on their racial diversity and plan to confront members about any biases they have.

"You go straight at our people and talk about the difference between McCain and Obama and the fact that race could be an issue -- you go straight at it," said Gerald McEntee, head of the AFL-CIO's political committee.

"Once people get in the booth, if they won't vote for a black man ...," he said with a shrug. Continued...

If you do not vote for Obama, You are a racist. Stalinist and simple. That's Andy Stern and all who do his bidding.

American Labor was built upon the principles of the right to work, the right to organize, the right to engage in collective bargaining and the right to strike for wages and benefits. American Labor made the American Standard of Living and the Middle Class. Unions taughtthe unskilled skills - moved the poor into the middle class. SEIU uses the poor and the unskilled to eliminate the American Middle Class.

The more unskilled and impoverished Americans, the more powerful Andy Stern's SEIU becomes.

Andy Stern's SEIU is for redistribution of wealth, global identification over American values, salaries mandated by legislation and the elimination of the American Middle Class.

Obama swims in Andy Stern's Tank.

John McCain is on the other side of Andy Stern.

John McCain; Old Paint v. Phar Lap

The Australian legendary horse, Phar Lap, took on the full field of front runners at Aqua Caliente in 1932 and blew them away. Two days later the wonder horse dropped dead of colic. To paraphrase historian Lauren Hillenbrand, that didn't do much for the nag but did wonders for his legend. So it is with Illinois first term Senator Barack Obama one of the most electrifying public persons to come on the scene in years.

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2000/3/2000_3_78.shtmlHere in Illinois, Barack Obama was identified with the quotidian tasks of getting the job done. He did not electrify. He was there.

Defeated in a run for Congress against Black Panther turned Chicago Alderman turned U.S./ Congressman Bobby Rush and tweaked in the Chicago Sun Times as 'not black enough,' Obama was acknowledged as a good guy and an up-and comer.

Then he was passed along to the U.S. Senate in the usual way - bartering for the primary shot with Dan Hynes, getting the Chicago Tribune to open up the books on Republican rival Jack Ryan and being treated with Allan Keyes as an opponent in the general election. Not electrifying.

The the 2004 DNC - electrifying speech and a fairy-tale first date.

The gradus, the normal steps of political ascent was bulldozed immediately by the buzz-doctors and poll priests at the DNC and the Progressive road-grader went to work on the political process - 'forget the resume - polish the interview!'

Electrifying. Short-circuit, but electrifying nevertheless. Barack Obama no longer was photographed with the elected officials who helped him in Springfield. Obama was now with the Major Dudes of Progressivism. Community activist was pushed to the top of resume along with U of C Law Professor! Now that's progressive. Legislation in Springfield? No paper trail? - no matter. Obama was out of the gate!

Kid Hope blows by Biden, Dodd, Richardson, Kucinich ( a Llama among the other Clydesdales), he takes show-pony Edwards and finally after getting plenty of juice from Doc Dean, Obama goes neck-and neck with the only Chalk on the Turf - Senator Hillary Clinton gets a photo-finish with Kid Hope in June.

The race is over. Obama is run-out. We have seen all that he can do.

Obama is stumbling and seems colicky. There is not much there -there.

John McCain, a genuine public servant and a 'flawed person' by his own account had this Democratic voter well over a year ago. I like Barack Obama, but he is no where near ready to be President; no where near ready to be Governor of Illinois and Jimmy the Two-Headed Boy could do a better job than Governor John Edwards-Lite Blagojevich.

Obama will lose forty states. Like Phar Lap, we found Obama 'electrifying' - snap, sizzle, fizz - but Old Paint McCain will win by a land-slide - forty lengths at least.

Click my post title for the Economist article Obama Fatigue.

The beauty of this very unscientific analysis lies in the fact that my methodology is as old as the polis - I am voting for John McCain because I trust him to win the War on Islamist Terror, work with all Americans to right the economy, make the hard-decisions for the right reasons and keep America safe, strong and focused.

Senator Obama blew the most important decision of his political life - when asked by the DNC clown-opera to run for President, Barack Obama jumped at the chance. He bolted out of the gate before he was ready for the race. CRASH, SPLINTER, RIP! STUMBLE! That's gotta hurt.

John McCain:Juice Bag Keith Olbermann, the Uberbore loses Milbank: MSNBC The Tool Shed!

MSNBC's Countdown's Bloated Boor -Keith Olbermann, a dweeb that could get the Dalai Lama to toss on a pair brass knucks, had long-time pal and guest Dana Milbank jump ship on him and the MSNBC Tool Shed cavalcade of cretins, feebs and dummies.

Anyone with a point a view gets the Thought Criminal Treatment from the Obama Campaign's Propaganda Mill at MSNBC. Obama will lose forty states in November, thanks in large part to his empty resume, arrogance, race-baiting strategy ( really made Bubba PO'd), and IN THE TANK shills at MSNBC. Give Olby a Raise!

Huge Hat Tip to the good folks, Democrats all, at No Quarter.
Click my post title for the full magilla.

Who's next?

John McCain: School Choice to "Open up the white school. We want to get in the white school. We want to go where the books are or computers are,"

Illinois Rev./Senator James Meeks wants to "Open up the white school. We want to get in the white school. We want to go where the books are or computers are,"

Click my post title for Rev./Senator Meeks redistribution of wealth scam scheduled for the start of school. For those interested, Meeks and his Media parrots at Chicago Sun Times call for CPS students to ditch school on the opening day and join him for a field trip to Winnetka to protest Illinois Education Funding inequities.

Illinois pays a percentage of the cost of educating a child and property taxes pay out the balance. Thus, if you pay higher property taxes based upon the cost of your home, chances are that your local public school will spend more per pupil.

I drive a Chevy, because my income, mortgage, Catholic school tuition payments, and personal debt precludes my driving a Bentley. My wardrobe reflects that economic snap-shot as well. I can not see me parking myself in front of a Barrington Jaguar dealership bemoaning such a lifestyle inequity - not yet anyway.

Now, if someone were to lavish me and mine with six zeroes behind a set of Arabic numerals into my bank accounts . . . I'd probably still opt for the Chevy. I am a cheap, stingy bastard.
Well, Rev. Senator, School Choice will do just that! However, you and other Public School Industry shills will need to get religion on School Choice.

Taking a thousand or so truant Chicago Public School children on an expensive rhetorical event will get you some press coverage, but tax-payers see through the rhetoric to the heart of this redistribution of wealth dodge.

Using the legislature as a pry bar to other peoples wealth is a radical tactic, but one that is proving little more than a stick-up device on gutless politicians and 40 Watt intellects in the Media. Ask a pipefitter, an electrician, a masonry contractor, carpenter, or nurse how they feel about paying more taxes for failed public schools. No one in the media bothers to ask them.

You'll have press conferences aplenty. No change though.

If you are serious about change - I do not believe for a nano-second that you are though( but that's just me) - you will advocate School Choice, Vouchers, for all Illinois families. There will be no 'white this' and 'black that,' only Choice for all.

Catholic schools, the largest system of alternative education options, do the job that public schools wish that they could do for half the cost of educating a child in an Illinois Public School. More competition from Muslim, Dutch Reformed, Lutheran, Jewish and Independant Schools will force public school sinkholes to operate within their means.

New Trier spends $17,000 per student

CPS throws $ 10,500 + at failure

Catholic Schools spend between $5,000 and $8,000 to move kids to success and also save Illinois tax-payers millions of dollars.

If it is all about Race, then that is pretty sad - understandable and easily performed to be sure but sad.

It is about Change, then you are barking up the wrong tree.

John McCain is for School Choice and against Abortion.

John McCain: Obama Backs off Debates - Now, What Would Cousin Wild Bill Hickock Say?

Hickock & Jane or Wild Bill Obama & Calamity Claire McCaskill?


Here's Obama cousin Wild Bill Hickock on playing it safe!

"Sure glad to see you, but hand me those guns." -- Wild Bill Hickok, greeting cowboys new to Abilene, Kansas in 1871.


Look'ee Here, Pards!

And one day after McCain promised not to raise taxes, Obama signaled he’s willing to have a vigorous debate. Maybe even a duel. “The family legend is that Wild Bill Hickok, he’s a distant cousin of mine,” Obama said, noting an 1865 duel that happened in this town. “We’re going to research that cause I’m ready to duel John McCain on taxes. Right now, right here. I’m a quick draw.”

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/07/30/1234432.aspx

Now, Look'ee Here

Democratic candidate Barack Obama on Saturday backed away from rival John McCain's challenge for a series of joint appearances, agreeing only to the standard three debates in the fall.

In May, when a McCain adviser proposed a series of pre-convention appearances at town hall meetings, Obama said, "I think that's a great idea." In summer stumping on the campaign trail, McCain has often noted that Obama had not followed through and joined him in any events.

Obama's reversal on town hall debates is part of a play-it-safe strategy he's adopted since claiming the nomination and grabbing a lead in national polls. Advisers to the Illinois senator, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss strategy, say Obama is reluctant to take chances or give McCain a high-profile stage now that Obama's the front-runner.

Now, I wonder if John McCain - thought by some to be a tad on the onery side -might not be a distant cousin of Black Bart ( no Race Card intended or implied). I can almost hear Sen. McCain offering similar poetic sentiments as these:


Black Bart was a poet outlaw.


"I've labored long and hard for bread

For honor and for riches

But on my corns too long you've tread

You fine haired sons of bitches."



-- Black Bart

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-Words3.html

John McCain: Obama is No Salmon P. Chase

“He’s spending an awful lot of time talking about me. You notice that?” Obama asked a crowd of just over one thousand seated in a university gym. “I haven’t seen an ad yet where he talks about what he’s going to do. And the reason is because those folks know they don’t have any good answers, they know they’ve had their turn over the last eight years and made a mess of things.”

“They know that you’re not real happy with them and so the only way they figure they’re going to win this election is if they make you scared of me,” Obama continued, repeating an attack from earlier in the day. “What they’re saying is ‘Well, we know we’re not very good but you can’t risk electing Obama. You know, he’s new, he doesn’t look like the other presidents on the currency, he’s a got a funny name.’”


True, Senator, true.

You are no Salmon P. Chase - heck not even Al Hamilton, but you are young and Hope Springs Eternal in breast of Youth.
Or, do you mean? God's Holey Haines! Race? Campaign has tanked already?

Ah, The Race Card - All 52 plus the Jokers in the Obama Deck!



Now, I wonder which of our National worthies on our spondulices John McCain most resembles?

Thanks Hot Air's Ed Morrissey!

John McCain: School Choice v. Redistribution of Wealth Scam of School Funding Inequities

' I got it. I insist!' - words that warm the hearts of people everywhere following a great meal, an evening of music where the tickets are $ 75 a pop, or the price of an item in the checkout line when you find that you are on the shorts and a nice person waiting behind you springs for the difference. People are generous to a fault - for the most part.

People also tend to pay their own way in life - for the most part. If we can not afford something, we tend to save for it. However, Progressives tend to believe that taking money away from people who work and save and give that money to other people through Progressive initiatives is justice. Not really.

The people who live in wealthy suburbs worked and saved to live there and send their kids to schools there.

Some people live in a cycle of poverty and spiritless entitlement that is created by Progressive Programs that suck the soul out of people.

Some people get very, very wealthy by perpetuating this cycle of poverty and misery.

Allowing someone else to pay for something is a learned grace, for most us. It is part of the social gradus that our baby steps treat us to becoming full human beings. Often it is much more difficult to act graceful in allowing another to pay for something. Our pride often gets in the way.

There is no such grace, expected, or learned, in what passes for the Progressive entitlement industry. Government, to the Progressive, must generate as much capital to be wasted through bureaucracy and sinecure through 'social programs' as possible.

The Public Education Industry, which combines Teachers Unions, lawyers, lobbyists, academics, community activists, tin-horn politicians, school service industries ( food, busing, supplies, storage, security & etc.) and the monstrously obese school management system devours taxes like a celebrity off of Jenny Craig.

Rev./Senator James Meeks plans to bus 'thousands' of truant Chicago Public School children to wealthy north suburban Winneta and Northfield, IL in order to enroll students from Chicago and possibly the south suburbs to highlight what People for the American Way and other Progressive deep thinkers perceive to be a social justice issue - inequity in school funding. Meeks 'wants the world to compare New Trier's average 27.1 ACT score and 95 percent graduation rate with 70 percent graduating from college with a bachelor's degree with his Chicago district: a high school dropout rate averaging 63 percent and only six of 100 of those who go on to college graduating with a bachelor's degree.

"I am sure there are a lot of factors, but the main difference is funding," Meeks said. "New Trier received $17,000 per student, and a high school in my district received $10,000 per student. I believe that the state has an obligation in property-poor schools to make up the gap."

From this effort, Meeks said he hopes to team up with the North Shore communities to find solutions to the inequality problem in education.

"I think they would have want to help out us figure this out. Because I think people who live in Winnetka and Evanston, I think they would understand this issue. We want to team up and take a stand, to write letters, to call on the government, to fix the problems," Meeks said."

http://www.pioneerlocal.com/wilmette/news/1082032,wi-meeks-073108-s1.article

According to People for the American WayHowever, Illinois only pays about 36 percent of all school expenses, far below the national average of 50 percent. The state relies heavily on local property taxes, and on average, local property taxpayers fund about 53 percent of school expenses. The remaining 10 percent or so comes from federal aid.


In 1990, seventy of Illinois’ school districts sued the state, challenging the constitutionality of the school funding formula. The plaintiffs argued that the average tax base in the wealthiest 10 percent of elementary schools was more than 13 times the average of that in the 10 percent of the poorest schools. Such disparities severely impacted a school’s educational quality including teacher quality and academics.9 The case was heard by the state supreme court, which—while acknowledging that the present school funding scheme was unwise—felt that the issue should be handled by the state legislature and not the courts.10


http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oid=15549

Meeks two biggest contributors to his political life are layers and lobbyist followed closely by Public Sector Unions ( Teachers & SEIU). Taxes mean income to these folks.

http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=417339


New Trier: Taxpayers spend $17,000 per student to launch kids toward great achievements

CPS - Spends $10,000 + per student to do very little for them.

Now here's the payoff - for the difference between the two, which is much, much less than either by the way - Catholic schools spend a little less than $ 7,000 per student to do even better for much less:

Compared with their public-school counterparts, more than twice as many minority Catholic-school graduates from urban areas finish college: 27 percent of the Catholic-school graduates finish college, while only 11 percent of minority public-school graduates receive their degrees. And while 62 percent of minority students at urban public high schools graduate, 88 percent of students from the same background complete high school when enrolled in Catholic schools, according to the study.

The opportunity to attend Catholic schools could play an important role in overcoming poverty among urban minorities, Neal said. "In today's labor market, young adults who finish high school -- even if they do not finish college -- earn at least 15 percent more than high school dropouts. Those who finish college earn even more." Higher college completion rates suggest that urban Catholic-school students actually learn more than similar public-school students who complete the same amount of formal schooling, Neal said. "Urban minorities receive significant benefits from Catholic schooling because their public-school alternatives are substantially worse than those of whites or other minorities who live in non-urban areas."

White students also benefit from attending Catholic schools, but the difference in completion rates between white Catholic-school students and those of their public-school counterparts are less dramatic. While 87 percent of white students in urban areas graduate when enrolled in Catholic schools, 75 percent of the white public-school students receive their diplomas. Among white Catholic-school graduates, 42 percent of those who enter college receive a degree, while 31 percent of the white public-school graduates who enter college finish their studies.

Scholars at the University have studied Catholic schools for many years. The late James Coleman, Professor in Sociology, identified strong school communities as one reason for higher achievement in Catholic schools. Anthony Bryk, Professor in Education and the College, has found that a strong core curriculum gives Catholic schools an advantage.

Neal's study is among the first to look at college completion as a measure of the

http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/970306/catholic.shtml

Lord Have Mercy!!! The University of Chicago said that?

School Choice and School Vouchers are the only way to fix public schools - tax dollars just feed its gluttonous appetite for more.

Let's save 'I 'll get this one!' for our friends and family and let's have government do the right the thing. Cut the Bull$hit! Back School Choice!

John McCain: Chicago's John Kass Warns of Obama's Hopium Distribution

The best Chicago writer since Finley Peter Dunne introduced Mister Dooley to Americans, John Kass, warns of the spreading Hopium Addiction -MSM 40 Watt news readers and surfer-dude slackers are not the only victims, Republicans have long been Hope-heads, but they tend to suffer silently - enabled by friends and common country clubs. MoveOn.org is really slinging the stuff, it seems.

"I never thought it could happen to me," says a shaggy blond-haired surfer dude in the ad, a guy who should have carried a bong.

"I've been living with it for a while now," says a young woman, talking as if she'd contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

That's how they discuss hopium. Like a disease. But they have nothing to be guilty about. It's not some disease that cranky old Republicans can't get because they stopped having sex.

It's hopium.

Click my post title for more Kass on Hopium!

Francis Boyle, University of Illinois Law: What Being A Gold Plated Jerk is All About

A circle does not get any better than the full 360 degrees ( I originally had 350 degrees -blind, cranky old jerk, Hickey! Yes, It does take one to know one and I stand in awe of Francis!) and Francis Boyle, Law Professor of University of Illinois completes the empirical proof necessary to fully explain the nature of being a jerk*

Francis Boyle is trolling for work as Iran's mouthpiece in seeking damages against America, Great Britain and, of course, Israel. Francis hates St. Paddy's Day pub crawls and once sought to outlaw them in Urbana.

07/29/2008 05:52 PM ID: 72353
US Law Professor Reportedly Offers to Represent Iran in Lawsuit Against the United States Over Sanctions
Iran: According to local broadcaster Press TV law professor Francis Boyle from the University of Illinois has suggested Iran sue the US in the International Court of Justice over sanctions stemming from the country's nuclear program.

The United States has threatened further sanctions unless Iran suspends it's nuclear enrichment. Boyle, an international law expert, has even offered to represent Iran, saying that the action would discourage further sanctions or military attacks.

"...Iran should sue these states immediately, convene an emergency hearing by the World Court, and ask the court to indicate provisional measures of protection on behalf of Iran against the United States, Israel and the EU-3," said Boyle.

Source: www.upi.com

As my Irish cousins would say, Chupa me, pendejo!" Y Que Pendejo!!! Oy! Chupa me, pendejo!" Talk Laugh! That lad's a right bollix enough!


When it seemed that academic jerks like Billy 'The Rich Insulated Domestic Terrorist' Ayers and Ward Churchill raised the bar on jerks, Francis Boyle trots out to the international competitive pits and sails over the parallel goal!

The University of Illinois is a tax-payer funded university with a Board of Trustees that hired not only Ayers ( U of I Chicago) but Francis the Persian Mouthpiece!

Chief Illiniwek took up much of their time.

Several years ago a nice little book( Workforce Management’s editor, John Hollon) explained exactly why jerks rule and universities and corporations have warts go away quicker than jerks:

1) The jerk has specialized skills: This is by far the most recurring theme to rationalize keeping jerks in your company. This theory suggests the knowledge, skills and abilities held by the jerk can’t be replaced in the marketplace. You’ll rarely hear this rationalization about accounting, HR or marketing professionals (since these skills transfer easily across industries), but you’ll hear it constantly when it comes to technical competencies in areas like engineering, product development and programming. Additionally, the more specialized and niche-oriented your line of business, the more you’ll hear this reason for keeping a jerk around.

2) The jerk is a knowledge hoarder: Also known as the "hostage taker" among my circle of HR friends. In this scenario, the company is unwilling to move on a jerk because he has managed to become the only person working on a specific project or product within a given area for the past 12 to 36 months. As a result of this hostage situation, the managers evaluating the situation are not only unwilling to move the jerk out, but they are also unwilling to start cross-training others in the area for fear of upsetting the jerk in question.

3) The jerk owns our most important customers: A specialized form of the knowledge hoarder, this "customer hoarder" has been allowed over time to carve out a position as the sole individual responsible for talking to your customers, often the most important ones. Most commonly seen in sales and support functions, the managers at your company will often avoid confrontation with this flavor of jerk so they can make it through the next month or quarter.

4) The jerk has friends in high places: Nothing stops managers from removing a jerk from your company quicker than this assumption or rumor. Often part of the informal grapevine, yet rarely verified, this scenario assumes that the jerk used to work for or with a ranking officer at your company. The reality is these relationships are usually loose at best, and if the ranking officer understood the impact of the jerk-like behavior, he or she would green-light a termination quickly.

5) HR won’t let me fire the jerk: Yes, I said it. You may be part of the problem. This is the reason you don’t hear much about (because it is about you, HR people), but you can rest assured the blame is being laid at your feet—probably right now. Get out of the way! Approve the termination request and don’t ask for the paper trail. If you have to have a paper trail, have a professional-conduct policy with teeth, and insist on moving the jerk to a final warning the first time he acts like a jerk, and terminate him the second time it happens—even for the little stuff related to jerk behavior.

6) The jerk is much better at confrontation than I am: Confrontation is never easy. This is especially true with someone like a jerk, who actually thrives on confrontation. As you work though the other reasons to keep a jerk around that I’ve included on this list, keep in mind that confrontation is also an issue in the manager’s mind. What can you do? Simple: Partner with the manager to work though the other issues, and when the manager arrives at the conclusion that now is the time to move the jerk out of the company, be a partner. Make it easy, reinforce the decision, be part of the termination conference—whatever it takes to move forward.

Here’s why you have to go through this exercise, as painful as it may be. A seat at the table requires HR people to engage in the age-old debate about results and their associated costs. Before you mobilize against a jerk, make sure you know which item from the list above is the stated business reason for keeping him or her around.

It's not enough to simply identify the jerk and cite The No Asshole Rule, no matter how true the premise is. You’ll have to be a business partner and find a way to help address the concern, real or imagined, that has been stopping the jerk’s removal. Skip this step, and you risk the boomerang effect that ends up with you being hurt professionally because you weren’t prepared.

So put on your helmet and get in the game. But be prepared for contact early and often.

Yep, jerks often tend to make folly a self-directed enterprise that collects collateral damage - wives, kids, friends, colleagues and such - but Francis has gone positively universal! I'll disappoint my family and friends with the best of them, but I do shrink from betraying my country. I am a rank amateur.


Francis! You stand alone, Son! Enjoy the view!




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

John McCain: Meeks Shall Inherit the Earth - Education as a Redistribution of Wealth Scam

Rev. Senator Meeks of Illinois plans to bus thousands of truant CPS students* to Winnetka's New Trier School District and enroll them in the affluent northern suburb.

Given the cost of gassing up the buses need to take his expected 'thousands of children,' Rev./Senator Meeks is going on the hip in a huge way to bring focus on what he believes to be a two-tiered funding inequity in how education dollars are spent.**

New Trier spends $ 17,000 per student and CPS spends $ 10,000 per student, according to a piece in Salon.

Meeks said he expects several thousand Chicago students to travel in a caravan of buses to New Trier Township High School in the leafy, North Shore suburb of Winnetka, where they will attempt to enroll.

State statistics indicate that the New Trier district spends around $17,000 annually on each of its students compared to the roughly $10,000 a year spent for each student in Chicago public schools.

"We, as a civilized people, can't do it this way," Meeks said. "We're doing irreparable harm to hundreds of thousands of kids."

A civilized solution, Rev./Senator Meeks, is school choice. You oppose School Choice.

School Choice would give your constituents and all Illinois families the choice of where to send their children.

It will save you thousands of needed dollars wasted gassing buses, feeding the children, providing chaperons, security to protect the children up there in Winnetka.

Keep it real, Rev./Senator! Get behind School Choice. End this social justice issue.

John McCain is all about School Choice.

Rev./Senator Meeks will not get behind School Choice. He and Senator Obama are behind a redistribution of wealth strategy for education - noted in the Salon article. The Annenberg Challenge's Billy Ayers is the true craftsman of this 'education reform' dodge. Senator Obama, Rev. Senator Meeks Senate colleague, was the first Chairman of the Chicago Challenge. Redistribution of wealth is at the core of this scam and itr has nothing to do with the safety of children or reforming education.

Overhauling how public schools are funded in Illinois has been hotly debated for years — but to little avail. Critics want the state to move away from a system where money for local schools derives largely from local property taxes, saying the status quo results in vastly better funding of schools in property-rich neighborhoods.

That is socialism, Rev./Senator, not social justice. Keeping it Real.

* Rev./Senator Meeks is calling on CPS students to skip school and go on his field trip.

** Who is springing for the trump to take the kids to Winnetka? Will they be ticketed as truant?