Even as Wisconsin under Scott Walker brings up the rear in job creation in the Midwest, Republican candidates for governor in both Illinois and Minnesota say they want to follow Scott Walker.
Under fire from stories reporting GOP gubernatorial nominee, Bruce Rauner, hit the fundraising circuit this week at his ranch in Montana, following revelations that Rauner hid personal investments by funneling holdings into the Cayman Islands to avoid taxes, as first reported in the Chicago Sun Times(Dave McKinney).
Scott Walker's political trajectory is headed downward even in the face of a mediocre Democratic opponent who largely avoids campaigning in face-to face encounters with the Wisconsin people, just not as much as Walker.
Today's brand of Republicans look at Scott Walker and like what they see.
Showing posts with label Illinois. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illinois. Show all posts
Mar 18, 2014
Primary Day in Illinois
Working people who value the right to organize are off to the polls in Illinois, voting Republican.
Many working folks are expected to vote against Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, whom some say could be the next Scott Walker, without the religious mania, and instead vote for the GOP's State Sen. Kirk Dillard.
Much of organized labor is throwing its weight behind Dillard, including AFSCME.
The largely self-financed Rauner like Walker had been demonizing public sector workers while celebrating the new GOP attack on working-class Americans.
The winner will face Gov. Patrick Quinn (D).
Coverage from the Tribune.
Many working folks are expected to vote against Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner, whom some say could be the next Scott Walker, without the religious mania, and instead vote for the GOP's State Sen. Kirk Dillard.
Much of organized labor is throwing its weight behind Dillard, including AFSCME.
The largely self-financed Rauner like Walker had been demonizing public sector workers while celebrating the new GOP attack on working-class Americans.
The winner will face Gov. Patrick Quinn (D).
Coverage from the Tribune.
Mar 8, 2014
Illinois' Bruce Rauner Is the Next Scott Walker Wannabe
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| Fighting for families in the Land of Lincoln |
Matthew Blake at In These Times describes Rauner as an openly worker-hostile candidate who said of public workers that they are responsible for sending Illinois into "a long-term death spiral."
Blake quotes Don Rose, a progressive Chicago political consultant: "I think Rauner is horrifically and historically anti-union."
The self-financed Rauner faces opposition for the Republican nomination for governor on March 18, and the winner will face Democratic Governor Pat Quinn.
Reports Rich Miller of the Capitol Fax Blog:
David Yepsen, a long time journalist who is now director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, said what the unions really want is to not be Wisconsin.
'I think the labor movement in Illinois is genuinely afraid Bruce Rauner will try to do what Scott Walker tried in Wisconsin and they are worried,' Yepsen told Illinois Watchdog.
Sep 18, 2009
Trail-blazing Latino Cop
Three years ago a street was named in Aurora, Illinois in honor of the city's first Latino police officer who was murdered on September 20, 1970.From a piece appearing in May 2006.
Aurora, Illinois Amid the national mobilization of Mexican-Americans asserting their humanity, a Mexican-American hero was recognized today.
Officer Hector Jordan was honored today by the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department by the naming of a street, Hector Jordan Way, at a ceremony attended by some 120 people.
Jordan was the first Hispanic cop in the Aurora Police Department and was an acclaimed undercover federal narcotics officer for the precursor of today's Drug Enforcement Agency.
At six-foot, three inches, well-muscled, and intense, Hector "Bobby" Jordan cut an imposing figure on the Aurora police force in the 1950s.
At six-foot, three inches, well-muscled, and intense, Hector "Bobby" Jordan cut an imposing figure on the Aurora police force in the 1950s.
But to the 1950s American mind, he had a serious issue, he was a Mexican-American, meaning the bigots didn't like him.
In fact, in 1955, Jordan faced down bigotry or those who tolerated bigotry, from the top of the police force. Before assuming duty, Jordan was told then by the powers that be how to behave and act around the "white" citizens he would encounter as the first Mexican-American officer on the force.
Jordan, angry and insulted, would have none of it, and suggested that the police find someone more "pliable," telling the powers that be to take him or leave him.
They took him. And Jordan went on to become the Aurora policeman of the year (1964), and rose to the top of his field in a career as an undercover federal narcotics agent (1965-1970) that officers in this dangerous line of work have described as legendary.
"Hector taught me that policing is the noblest of callings. He believed that police officers were the knights in shining armor. That we were the modern-day Don Quixotes. That we were the 'guardians' that Plato talked about. That if we failed to do our job, the democracy would crumble. Hector Jordan believed these beliefs in the depths of his soul," said Michael Nila, Aurora Police Captain (ret.) and Jordan's nephew.
Murdered on September 20, 1970 outside a going-away party thrown for him as he was set to leave for Madrid, Spain to head an international narcotics team, Jordan was viciously attacked by a gang of thugs who bludgeoned him to death [Jordan lapsed into a coma and died weeks later] simply because Jordan was a cop.
At least they didn't murder him for being a "spic," as Mexican-Americans were approvingly known by white society around Aurora those days, but Jordan pierced through that bigotry like an angry, Latin chain saw cutting up the veil of bigotry that separates us in his own unique way-human kindness, concern and humor, traits he brought with him to his position as a federal narcotics agent.
"Hector always had a way of getting things juiced up and firing up the [DEA] squad, sometimes somebody's having a bad day, well, Hector would always be there to do something funny, taping up a desk, hiding car keys, taking someone out to lunch. He was there for everyone. Someone had a problem, or a financial problem, he would always loan him some bucks. ... He was constantly the jokester, just having fun," said John Peoples, former partner and close friend of Hector Jordan, and retired DEA agent.
One time, Peoples recalled, an agent, John Wagner, had an assignment in Turkey, so the agents threw a going-away party and Jordan snuck in a live turkey to the party, a rather loud and aggressive animal when put in an office setting.
Another time in downtown Chicago in the late 1960s, an edgy time for the police, at a bar full of some 40 cops, Jordan surreptitiously lit off a firecracker sounding just like gun shots, setting off a frenzied quest of checking for weapons and diving to the floor, to Jordan's very private amusement.
The dedication event was jointly sponsored by the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board and the Aurora Police Department. The fact that an official organization as the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board even exists today is a testament to the work of people like Jordan and those who carry on his tradition by stressing hard work and pride in the face of contemporary bigotry.
"Because of the pioneering achievements of people like Bobby Jordan in the 1950s and 1960s, a lot of Hispanics have an easier time achieving the American dream today. He is a true hero," said Joan Aguado, Jordan's niece, and an attorney in Milwaukee. "I worked in the Aurora-Chicago area in the Hispanic community after my first year of law school. I saw the racism that Hispanics have to overcome. Jordan overcame that racism, he challenged it head-on. I love hearing stories about Bobby Jordan because I think he is a role model for all Hispanics as today we face a threatening backlash."
Today, the powers that be in Aurora, the chief of police, the mayor, sing Jordan's praises.
Jordan loved people, and during that period - late 1960s Chicago - when cops were not always loved back, Jordan never lost his faith and love for humanity, and his shared laughter with the people he vowed to protect with his life going undercover, hiding under cars, or playing the role of a doped-up druggie.
Reportedly, even some of the people he busted during his many headline-grabbing cases would brag about being busted by the legendary Bobby Jordan.
Recalled Jordan's daughter Marsha, an award-winning Chicago TV reporter-writer-producer:
I remember John Peoples [Jordan's partner] when I used to go visit my father at the federal building...and after we would protest, that's what you did in the 1960s, ... and march over with the Conspiracy Eight [the infamous trial of the Chicago Eight/Seven] people to the federal building, and then I'd go up and see my dad. And he'd say, 'How did it go down there? You guys getting anywhere?'
I also remember back then, John, you visited our home, and my father was so crazed by this particular record that I had by the Velvet Underground. He said, 'John, you gotta hear this, listen to this!' The song was 'I'm Waiting for My Man, $26 dollars in my hand' which was the price of a bag of heroin at the time. And John got so outraged: 'What are they, are you hearing this? What is their problem?...We're supposed to be underground. This is supposed to be a secret.' And my father just roared with laughter, and just fell over the floor. And the more irate you became, the more entertained he was. And that, as John said, was the great gift of his, his humor, the pleasure, the joy and the mischief that he elevated to masterful levels. As a cop and then as an agent, he was always about seizing the dare of the day with peril and purpose.
You taught me to live like a man so it would empower my womanhood. So many of those quiet secrets we shared before the morning sun would hasten the hours of the ordinary. And the ordinary was not the Jordan way. Goethe said, 'He only earns his freedom and his life who takes them everyday by storm.' Listening to Jordan's loved ones speak today, as millions march to acclaim their lives and their freedom to live as Americans, I cannot help but feel that the proud Mexican-American Jordan, were he alive, would look on smiling and ask: 'How's that going? You guys getting anywhere?'
Apr 16, 2009
Jesus Wants the Senate to Filibuster Judge Hamilton
Update: Senator Inhofe Will Filibuster Judicial Nominee, Hamilton for Ruling Against Sectarian Prayers in Indiana Legislature
From some of the folks who brought you the Tea Parties, now comes an appeal in the name of Jesus to filibuster federal Judge David Hamilton nominated by President Obama for the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
The seventh circuit comprises the states of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin
Hamilton was nominated in March and has been hailed by the president of People for the American Way, and reportedly reads into U.S. law such notions as liberty, equality, and justice.
Human Events, a rightwing journal and activist group that is a major go-to organization for the latest GOP snake oil, is sending out a mass e-mail letter asking for a Senate filibuster because of concerns that Hamilton, chief judge of the Southern District of Indiana, is in favor of "banning public prayers offered 'in Jesus name,' and hastening the abortion of unborn children," in addition to being "Anti-Jesus, but Pro-Allah." [Aside from those indiscretions, the guy has a pretty impressive biography.]
Makes for fun reading so I posted the Human Events-Pray in the Name of Jesus Project letter below.
I wouldn't worry too much about how our Senators Kohl and Feingold, who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, are going to vote on this one and whether Hamilton gets confirmed by the full Senate.
Just sit back and enjoy this battle against the Allah-loving, Jesus-hating, baby-killing, ACLU-loving, former ACORN-working Judge Hamilton. By the way Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), that RINO (Republican In Name Only), endorsed Judge Hamilton's nomination to the tears of Jesus and perhaps the wrath of Archangels who can be a vicious lot if crossed on a bad day.
God bless.
---
Dear Citizen Activists,
Barack Obama continues to push his nomination of federal Judge David Hamilton, who has issued controversial rulings (banning public prayers offered "in Jesus name," and hastening the abortion of unborn children), to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (the same court that has reversed his aggressive decisions for many years).
To oppose Hamilton, we've already put in 240,000+ fax petitions to the U.S. Senate, but to the delight of many liberal groups (including the National Abortion Rights Action League who is actively campaiging FOR Hamilton), ZERO REPUBLICAN SENATORS have yet promised to filibuster this bad nomination of the most dangerous liberal extremist, anti-Life, anti-Liberty, anti-Jesus Judge David Hamilton to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. We must demand a filibuster to oppose him. Can you please help us reach our goal of 1,000,000 faxes against Hamilton?
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN AND WE'LL AUTOMATICALLY FAX YOUR PERSONALIZED PETITION TO ALL 100 U.S. SENATORS, OPPOSING THE ANTI-LIFE, ANTI-CHRISTIAN JUDGE DAVID HAMILTON.
Judge Hamilton is the worst of Obama's 15 new liberal appeals court appointees. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals covers Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. Since most cases never reach the Supreme Court, the federal appellate circuits often provide the last word on cases affecting life and liberty.
READ THE FACTS:
The Judicial Confirmation Network quickly opposed Hamilton's nomination, stating that "President Obama's first nominee to the federal appeals courts -- specifically the appeals court based in Chicago -- is an ultra-liberal named David Hamilton who is a former fundraiser for ACORN and former leader of the Indiana chapter of the ACLU. He was nominated to the district court bench by President Clinton even though he had no judicial experience and was rated as 'not qualified' by the American Bar Association ."
Hamilton ruled in 2005 to ban the practice of opening the chamber's business with prayers mentioning Jesus Christ or using terms such as "Savior." He said that amounted to state endorsement of a religion. (But he ruled prayers to "Allah" were perfectly lawful.)
ANTI-JESUS, BUT PRO-ALLAH?
Judge Hamilton wrote: "The injunction orders the Speaker...that the prayers should not use Christ's name or title or any other denominational appeal...If those offering prayers in the Indiana House of Representatives choose to use the Arabic 'Allah'...the court sees little risk that the choice of language would advance a particular religion or disparage others.
In other words, Judge Hamilton ruled the words "Jesus" or "Christ" are illegal words, prohibited for public speech, banned by the First Amendment, which somehow prohibits freedom of religious expression, and makes Christian prayers ILLEGAL in a public forum. (What crazy version of the First Amendment is he reading?)
Thank God, we took action in 2007 and provided legal arguments to the Indiana Attorney General who appealed to the 7th Circuit Court and WE WON a 2-1 decision overruling Hamilton, restoring the right to pray "in Jesus name" in Indiana.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN AND WE'LL AUTOMATICALLY FAX YOUR PERSONALIZED PETITION TO ALL 100 U.S. SENATORS, OPPOSING THE ANTI-LIFE, ANTI-CHRISTIAN JUDGE DAVID HAMILTON.
ANTI-LIFE BUT PRO-ABORTION?
In 2003, Judge Hamilton struck down part of an Indiana law on abortion. The reasonable law had required abortion clinics to simply give women information about alternatives to abortion in the presence of a physician or nurse, 18 hours before the procedure, until Hamilton ruled to hasten abortions . But thank God, the 7th Circuit Court also reversed Hamilton's bad decision in that case.
If confirmed now Hamilton will sit on that 7th Circuit Court (the same court that frequently overruled him) with terrible power to rule the heartland with his anti-life, anti-liberty, anti-Christian agenda.
WE CAN WIN THIS BATTLE!
We've already sent thousands of faxes to the full Senate, and we're getting results! On April 1st, Senator Orrin Hatch led all Republicans to walk out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in protest against the Democrat "rush job" to confirm Judge Hamilton.
Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, said he was troubled by Hamilton's ruling against a sectarian prayer to open the Indiana House of Representatives.
Even Senator Arlen Specter expressed concern. But will they vote unanimously against Hamilton?
Unfortuantely retiring RINO Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) endorsed Hamilton, endangering his own state of Indiana and ruining his own legacy. Lugar's five phone numbers are: Indianapolis (317) 226-5555, Evansville (812) 465-6313, Fort Wayne (260) 422-1505, Valparaiso (219) 548-8035, DC Office (202) 224-4814.
Everybody please call all five numbers today, and especially ask your Indiana friends to call Sen. Lugar . You might even call both U.S. Senators from your own state, at 202-225-3121. But remember, 100 emails = 10 phonecalls = 1 fax in political capital, since the Senate staffers must handle each paper and usually write a reply.
So please join our automated fax-petition campaign first. Then please forward this email to your Indiana-Illinois-Wisconsin friends, and to all pastors in all 50 states, and click here to download a church flyer that pastors can copy and distribute. But first, take action right now!
I pray you will not hesitate, but sign the petition and WE WILL FAX your petition right away, automatically to all 100 U.S. Senators.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN AND WE'LL AUTOMATICALLY FAX YOUR PERSONALIZED PETITION TO ALL 100 U.S. SENATORS, OPPOSING THE ANTI-LIFE, ANTI-CHRISTIAN JUDGE DAVID HAMILTON.
God Bless you, in Jesus' name,
Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt
P.S. Time is urgent! The Senate could vote on this confirmation as early as mid-April. If you click and sign today, we will forward your name immediately. Please don't wait another minute. Life, Liberty, and Jesus are too important to be banned by one extremist judge.
###
From some of the folks who brought you the Tea Parties, now comes an appeal in the name of Jesus to filibuster federal Judge David Hamilton nominated by President Obama for the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
The seventh circuit comprises the states of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin
Hamilton was nominated in March and has been hailed by the president of People for the American Way, and reportedly reads into U.S. law such notions as liberty, equality, and justice.
Human Events, a rightwing journal and activist group that is a major go-to organization for the latest GOP snake oil, is sending out a mass e-mail letter asking for a Senate filibuster because of concerns that Hamilton, chief judge of the Southern District of Indiana, is in favor of "banning public prayers offered 'in Jesus name,' and hastening the abortion of unborn children," in addition to being "Anti-Jesus, but Pro-Allah." [Aside from those indiscretions, the guy has a pretty impressive biography.]
Makes for fun reading so I posted the Human Events-Pray in the Name of Jesus Project letter below.
I wouldn't worry too much about how our Senators Kohl and Feingold, who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, are going to vote on this one and whether Hamilton gets confirmed by the full Senate.
Just sit back and enjoy this battle against the Allah-loving, Jesus-hating, baby-killing, ACLU-loving, former ACORN-working Judge Hamilton. By the way Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), that RINO (Republican In Name Only), endorsed Judge Hamilton's nomination to the tears of Jesus and perhaps the wrath of Archangels who can be a vicious lot if crossed on a bad day.
God bless.
---
Dear Citizen Activists,
Barack Obama continues to push his nomination of federal Judge David Hamilton, who has issued controversial rulings (banning public prayers offered "in Jesus name," and hastening the abortion of unborn children), to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (the same court that has reversed his aggressive decisions for many years).
To oppose Hamilton, we've already put in 240,000+ fax petitions to the U.S. Senate, but to the delight of many liberal groups (including the National Abortion Rights Action League who is actively campaiging FOR Hamilton), ZERO REPUBLICAN SENATORS have yet promised to filibuster this bad nomination of the most dangerous liberal extremist, anti-Life, anti-Liberty, anti-Jesus Judge David Hamilton to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. We must demand a filibuster to oppose him. Can you please help us reach our goal of 1,000,000 faxes against Hamilton?
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN AND WE'LL AUTOMATICALLY FAX YOUR PERSONALIZED PETITION TO ALL 100 U.S. SENATORS, OPPOSING THE ANTI-LIFE, ANTI-CHRISTIAN JUDGE DAVID HAMILTON.
Judge Hamilton is the worst of Obama's 15 new liberal appeals court appointees. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals covers Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. Since most cases never reach the Supreme Court, the federal appellate circuits often provide the last word on cases affecting life and liberty.
READ THE FACTS:
The Judicial Confirmation Network quickly opposed Hamilton's nomination, stating that "President Obama's first nominee to the federal appeals courts -- specifically the appeals court based in Chicago -- is an ultra-liberal named David Hamilton who is a former fundraiser for ACORN and former leader of the Indiana chapter of the ACLU. He was nominated to the district court bench by President Clinton even though he had no judicial experience and was rated as 'not qualified' by the American Bar Association ."
Hamilton ruled in 2005 to ban the practice of opening the chamber's business with prayers mentioning Jesus Christ or using terms such as "Savior." He said that amounted to state endorsement of a religion. (But he ruled prayers to "Allah" were perfectly lawful.)
ANTI-JESUS, BUT PRO-ALLAH?
Judge Hamilton wrote: "The injunction orders the Speaker...that the prayers should not use Christ's name or title or any other denominational appeal...If those offering prayers in the Indiana House of Representatives choose to use the Arabic 'Allah'...the court sees little risk that the choice of language would advance a particular religion or disparage others.
In other words, Judge Hamilton ruled the words "Jesus" or "Christ" are illegal words, prohibited for public speech, banned by the First Amendment, which somehow prohibits freedom of religious expression, and makes Christian prayers ILLEGAL in a public forum. (What crazy version of the First Amendment is he reading?)
Thank God, we took action in 2007 and provided legal arguments to the Indiana Attorney General who appealed to the 7th Circuit Court and WE WON a 2-1 decision overruling Hamilton, restoring the right to pray "in Jesus name" in Indiana.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN AND WE'LL AUTOMATICALLY FAX YOUR PERSONALIZED PETITION TO ALL 100 U.S. SENATORS, OPPOSING THE ANTI-LIFE, ANTI-CHRISTIAN JUDGE DAVID HAMILTON.
ANTI-LIFE BUT PRO-ABORTION?
In 2003, Judge Hamilton struck down part of an Indiana law on abortion. The reasonable law had required abortion clinics to simply give women information about alternatives to abortion in the presence of a physician or nurse, 18 hours before the procedure, until Hamilton ruled to hasten abortions . But thank God, the 7th Circuit Court also reversed Hamilton's bad decision in that case.
If confirmed now Hamilton will sit on that 7th Circuit Court (the same court that frequently overruled him) with terrible power to rule the heartland with his anti-life, anti-liberty, anti-Christian agenda.
WE CAN WIN THIS BATTLE!
We've already sent thousands of faxes to the full Senate, and we're getting results! On April 1st, Senator Orrin Hatch led all Republicans to walk out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in protest against the Democrat "rush job" to confirm Judge Hamilton.
Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, said he was troubled by Hamilton's ruling against a sectarian prayer to open the Indiana House of Representatives.
Even Senator Arlen Specter expressed concern. But will they vote unanimously against Hamilton?
Unfortuantely retiring RINO Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) endorsed Hamilton, endangering his own state of Indiana and ruining his own legacy. Lugar's five phone numbers are: Indianapolis (317) 226-5555, Evansville (812) 465-6313, Fort Wayne (260) 422-1505, Valparaiso (219) 548-8035, DC Office (202) 224-4814.
Everybody please call all five numbers today, and especially ask your Indiana friends to call Sen. Lugar . You might even call both U.S. Senators from your own state, at 202-225-3121. But remember, 100 emails = 10 phonecalls = 1 fax in political capital, since the Senate staffers must handle each paper and usually write a reply.
So please join our automated fax-petition campaign first. Then please forward this email to your Indiana-Illinois-Wisconsin friends, and to all pastors in all 50 states, and click here to download a church flyer that pastors can copy and distribute. But first, take action right now!
I pray you will not hesitate, but sign the petition and WE WILL FAX your petition right away, automatically to all 100 U.S. Senators.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN AND WE'LL AUTOMATICALLY FAX YOUR PERSONALIZED PETITION TO ALL 100 U.S. SENATORS, OPPOSING THE ANTI-LIFE, ANTI-CHRISTIAN JUDGE DAVID HAMILTON.
God Bless you, in Jesus' name,
Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt
P.S. Time is urgent! The Senate could vote on this confirmation as early as mid-April. If you click and sign today, we will forward your name immediately. Please don't wait another minute. Life, Liberty, and Jesus are too important to be banned by one extremist judge.
###
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