New tax zone is a bad idea

The City of Chicago is trying to slap downtown property owners with a Special Service Area tax. Why are the owners of three full Chicago zip codes and parts of three others so special . . . because they live near Millenium Park and someone has to pay the higher than expected operating costs.

Higher than expected operating costs? You better believe it. Tax payers had to foot the bill for more than $220 million worth of budget overages (on a proposed budget of $150 million). Now, if you live near M Park, you'll also be asked to pay $7.8 million per year to help keep it up.

Why does it feel like all of last weekend's Bean gawkers hadn't just walked over from their Lake Street condo, but may have come in from Naperville or Hammond?

Like politics, like sports . . . the bias is the same

Ever notice that the Tribune's wild card standings are biased towards the Cubs. In Saturday's paper, the Cubs were the last team listed as being in contention in the wild card race. There was a spot to list another team, but the Trib opted to leave that slot blank - ostensibly saying that no other teams should be considered as part of the race.

Saturday's Cub loss coupled with the Reds' victory over Pittsburgh, however, put the Cubs and Cincinnati in a tie. Now both teams are listed as being "in the race". Funny how the Reds climbed back in it over night.

How could this happen? We blew it.

The Daily Egyptian's side of the greatest hoax since Sidd Finch.

A plea to Mike Madigan

A judge ordered Democratic State Rep. Patricia Bailey to undergo a psychi(atric) evaluation in response to her claim that she may not be mentally fit for her upcoming fraud trial.

I hope Mike Madigan views this as an opportunity to request psychic evaluations for all Democratic legislators. I'd be happy to forward a list of certain Representatives whose "mental fitness" has long been a matter of public debate.

In case you missed it . . .

Imagine a 17-year-old with attitude. Can't have any of that nonsense on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The real problem with Democrats

Last month, U.S. Senator Barack Obama best characterized my issue with Democrats. Stumping for Florida Senator Bill Nelson, Obama stated,

"The Democrats at times have lost their way. We are trying to decide what our core values are."

U.S Senator Barack Obama

July 11, 2005

Democrats are trying to decide which are their core values? Aren’t core values the inherent component which supports what we stand for? Aren’t our core values the drivers behind our actions, opinions and policies?

Thus the problem with Democrats. They don’t know what they stand for, they can’t articulate it and they can’t sell it to the American people.

A touch of self-importance never hurts

The Sun-Times points out today that a computer firm run by Emil Jones’ step-son, John Sterling, just won a $1.2 million contract from the CTA. I had never heard of Chicago-based Synch-Solutions, but I was amused by the company’s website which contains a letter from the CEO, Sterling himself. The page itself refers to Sterling as a “Visionary, Mentor, and Leader”. In the letter, Sterling says that “Synch-Solutions is continuing to grow in a climate where the best companies are only able to tread for survival.”

Maybe Mr. Sterling can call in the executive management from the Fortune 500 and give them some pointers before they “drown”.

Thumbs down to Chicago Tribune

Add me to the sure to grow list of those personally offended by today's Chicago Tribune headline "Bean set to expose seams on its belly". I've always been a supporter of the Freedom of Information Act, but revealing truly personal aspects of one's life to the public, particularly an elected Federal representative, crosses all lines of decency and professionalism. The Tribune should quickly apologize.

Take a stand

The Tribune's Mike Downey questioned today, why our state leaders have been silent on the NCAA's decision to ban the use of American Indian mascots by sports teams during its postseason tournaments. Considering that the moniker of the state's primary public university is the "Fighting Illini", isn't it reasonable to believe that there will be a comment one way or another from either Blagojevich, Durbin or Obama?

Here's what others are saying:

With over 20,000 USA Today readers voting, 77% said that the ban is "Ridiculous. Political correctness gone too far."

Representative Tom Feeney (R-FL) whose district includes the home of the Florida State Seminoles, said the NCAA's ruling is "political correctness gone amuck."

In a letter to the USA Today, University of Illinois Board Chairman Lawrence C. Eppley wrote, "The Executive Committee's uninformed use of inflammatory rhetoric does not create a 'teachable moment'. Instead, it retards meaningful debate on an important issue, especially in the communities of the 18 institutions 'branded' by the NCAA as politically incorrect."

NCAA Myles Brand gave a half-hearted endorsement of the decision saying, "While I agree with and support the Executive Committee's decision, neither I nor any member of the NCAA staff had a vote."

So, with a decision that will have ripple effects for those who both follow and pay no attention to Illinois college basketball program, the people of Illinois deserve to hear a position articulated by our governor and two U.S. Senators. Please ignore the polls and take a stand.

Liberal Double Talk

Not that liberals hold an exclusive on double talk, but it’s more fun to point it out when they speak. The most recent example comes from Senator Joe Biden. You almost get the feeling that between interviews, one of his staffers told him to go easy on the Constitution work going on in Iraq.

In an interview yesterday on the Today Show, Biden calls missing the Iraqi Constitutional deadline “. . . a major, major bump.”

NBC' s Katie Couric: "The Fact That The Iraqis Could Not Come Up With A Constitution By Yesterday's Deadline, Do You See This As A Bump In The Road Or A Serious Setback?

Sen. Biden: "I Think It's A Bump In The Road In A Serious Process. ... It's A Major, Major Bump."

-NBC's Today Show
August 16, 2005

Shortly thereafter, Biden referred to the delays as “Good News” . . .

Sen. Biden: "But There Is Some Good News Going On. ... I Think That The Movement Toward This Constitution, I View The Delay As Evidence That We May Very Well Get A Constitution That Is Reasonable For The Iraqi People. So It's Not All Bad News."

-Fox News' Fox And Friends
August 16, 2005

What's a hired Truck?

The top observation while we were out of town . . . the number of people we met in Northern Michigan who thought Daley had already been indicted. To the out of town, casual observer, the scandal a day carnival is what currently defines our city. Not the Michael Jordan. Not deep dish pizza. Not the Sears Tower. Scandals.

After telling one Toronto family we met that we were from Chicago, the 18-year old son who had just graduated from high school in June, looked me in the eye and asked, "What's a hired truck?"

Just wondering . . .

As I drove up the state of Michigan to enjoy a week vacation in Good Hart with my wife's family, I wondered:

"Why do Michigan gas sations post signs advising motorists of the perils of drinking and driving just feet away from signs promoting beer sales?"

Separated at birth?

1. Democrat Contributor / Baseball Team Owner John Simmons

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Jon "Chucky" Gruden

3. Chucky

The Liberal Dictionary: Part III

The Tribune ran an article on Wednesday, Peace Groups get Boost in Evanston , about a resolution to be presented to the City Council urging the U.S. withdraw its troops from Iraq. If passed, Evanston would join Gary, Indiana in sending the resolution to President Bush and Congress. The article centered on strength in numbers:

"Speaking through you strengthens and empowers our individual voices," Dickelle Fonda of Neighbors for Peace told the city's Human Services Committee on Monday. "It might actually influence policy on a national level."

Reading the article, you sensed the grass roots support for the resolution. The Tribune referred to it as an “Evanston Coalition” saying that it was “church, neighborhood, student and political groups who addressed aldermen”. Certainly sounds like a force to reckon with. While the President and Congress are unlikely to utilize this resolution to shape America’s foreign policy, when a city of over 75,000 stands up, it should send a message.

But wait a minute . . . Is the city of Evanston standing up? It took me two reads to pick up the liberal bias in the article. ONLY 13 people showed up at the meeting – and that includes supporters and dissenters. In fact, the sentence to referring to the group stated:

"This is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It is an American issue," said Sue Schell of the Democratic Party of Evanston, one of more than a dozen people from church, neighborhood, student and political groups who addressed aldermen.

More than a DOZEN people? Out of a population of 75,000? Hundreds show up at the same building to debate whether or not the city should buy injections to save its dying elm tree population. A couple of folks representing a church, the neighborhood, a student group, and a political group can hardly be deemed a “coalition”.

If I had written the article, the article would have been about the LACK of support by the people of Evanston for the proposed resolution. The headline should have read “Barely a Dozen Turn Out for Proposed Resolution”.

But hey, if liberal speak didn’t abound, there would be nothing for me to write about.

If you're going to lie on a national stage . . .

. . . you might as well not wag your finger at Congress or the American people. Just makes you look stupid later.

"Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids. Period. I don't know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never."

-Rafael Palmeiro testifying to Congress

March 17,2005

"I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I'm going to say this again. I did not have sexual relations with that woman - Miss Lewinsky"

-President Bill Clinton

January 26, 1998

Blagojevich Campaign Announces First 2006 Endorsement

Having seen the governor's favorables drop steadily across the state, the Blagojevich campaign announced it's first endorsement for the 2006 election. Democratic leaders lauded the governor for his early political maneuver. Said House Speaker Mike Madigan,

"This should send a message to any Republican or Democrat who has the nerve to challenge Rod Blagojevich. Bob's endorsement reflects the respect the governor has earned in his first three years. It is a testament to his intelligence, sophistication and class."

Click here for full press photo

Unabashed?

I’ve often wondered why Liberals will refer to themselves as an “unabashed” or “self-admitted” liberal. On Friday night, I got a glimpse.

My wife and I went out to dinner with three couples to Japonais - http://www.japonaischicago.com/index2.html. (If you love sushi and haven’t been, I highly recommend you check it out.)

Two of the couples are good friends. We’d never met the third couple before, but were enjoying great conversation and laughs. Towards the end of the evening, however, the conversation turned to politics and among our new friends, the guy started spewing how much he hated the President.

He told a story of an experience he had before he moved to Winnetka. It seems President Bush was in his hometown and would be making an appearance very near his home. A secret service team rang his doorbell and asked if they could perch an agent on his roof. My friend laughed at them and told them to get the hell out of his house. Later, as they saw the President appear near his home, he took the opportunity to flip his middle finger at our Commander-in Chief. Shamefully, he was with his young daughter to whom he had to lie and tell her he was letting the President know he was “Number 1”.

Unabashed? Hardly seems to fit.