Revolt! Two Americas

Public sector workers make 45% more on average than private sector ones, and high-paid Big ObamaGov workers on our dime have had explosive growth during the recession! Benzinga.com HT NRO.

More:

USA Today also reports that "When the recession started, the Transportation Department had only one person earning a salary of $170,000 or more. Eighteen months later, 1,690 employees had salaries above $170,000." That's a 168,900% increase!!

And who runs that place? Mr. Illinois Combine, Ray LaHood. Stuffed with puffed up patronage workers no doubt.

More. PIGS at the public trough. Those phony anti-Tea Party ads trying to influence our election in Illinois. The big picture, in part:

But by far the largest donations have come from a collection of unionized government workers, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) -- which in 2008 alone donated $5.8 million to Patriot Majority and another $4.1 million to Patriot Majority Midwest.

Watch out for these guys. We pay their salaries at great cost to the health of our families and businesses and then they turn around and rob us again--of a fair election fight.

What Gibbs Hand REALLY Said

At Ace:)

...next up: #4wordsonjoebidenshand:

KenShepherd Lookin' foxy, Michaele Salahi #4wordsonjoebidenshand

JKevinEdwards four letters in jOBS #4WordsOnJoeBidensHand

KenShepherd: Don't disclose undisclosed location #4wordsonjoebidenshand #tcot

Previous post: Gibbs Oughta Go Too

First Lady O Over the Top Again

Talking to the mayors she said obesity was a threat to the economy. Now it's a matter of national security.

All this hyperbole makes people tired, or want to eat burgers in rebellion.

It also makes you think Michelle thinks she could do a better job of running the country.

She might be right.

...but lets pull back this curtain.

And what about this stupidity.

#4wordsonobamashands

Trending:)

I first noticed from a friend--Blame it on Bush

More:

T_Lynn412 #4WordsonObamashand. We will Bury you!!!

JCred #4wordsonobamashand Save foot from doctors

IKIDYOUNOT RT @sarahbellumd: #4wordsonobamashand who loves ya, baby?

ForbesWoman Valentine Ideas for Guys

In pictures. Girls gifts for guys that is.

Wild boar burgers? (or off to the wild?)

I think I have food on the brain. I just went out to shovel again today and it smells like fried chicken. My neighbor is a very good cook.

P.S. Or maybe it's a reaction to this:

BarackObama

Proud of the work the First Lady has done on Let's Move! — a nationwide effort to tackle childhood obesity. Get involved: http://bit.ly/d-g

If they have their way they'll treat us all like children.

P.P.S. My perennial Valentine favorite. Chocolate. Maybe there is a trip in search of that. OK, found one or two.

Gibbs Oughta Go Too

rcpblog

Gibbs Mocks Palin, Tea Party Convention: White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, speaking moments after Presiden... http://bit.ly/9Yh8TG

jimgeraghty

For all of his myriad flaws, Scott McClellan would never have dreamed of pulling a stunt like Gibbs did today.

jimgeraghty

Just remember, this presidency began with Obama calling for all of us to "set aside childish things."

kathrynlopez

this is how bad it's gotten: jim geraghty is defending scott mcClellan

And Mary Katharine Ham from my Palin post earlier today.

More.Video:

The McItaly Burger

The Italian Minister of Agriculture is a fan:

Minister Luca Zaia has argued that McDonald's new McItaly burger — using all Italian beef, Asiago cheese and artichoke spread — will pump (EURO)3.5 million ($4.8 million) more a month into the pockets of Italian farmers grappling with tough economic times.

The slow foodies are upset:

"Taste, like identity, has value only when there are differences," Petrini wrote.

Well, we don't have artichoke spread on our McDonald's, though it sounds yummy to me.

What I liked best in Italy was the gelati. Wonder if that's on the menu.

The GOP Alternative on the Economy

Fred Barnes calls it the McConnell Plan. Bringing a measure of certainty to encourage job creation.

Now if we could just get more votes for it.

Reinventing Michigan

Introducing his turnaround plan which ran locally in a Super Bowl ad: One Tough Nerd. Republican Rick Snyder, running for governor.

Check it out, Illinois.

(Obama)Rahmbo in Hot Water with Hill Dems

They hold him (and his boss) responsible:

"The House is like an Australian-rules rugby match,” the lawmaker added. “The Senate is like a march at a men’s club in imperial Britain. They're a bunch of barons over there."

Ah, Rahm should have sent The One back to the Senate. His natural home. (The Dem campaign finance reform millionaire's club)

Lots of Dem infighting. Because of their loss and mismanagement.

P.S. ObamaRahmbo Bizarroworld. I wrote about it yesterday. Today: Andrew Malcolm, Top of the Ticket. Matthew Continetti, TWS:

(3) A health care bill the public disapproves of and that has little chance of becoming law -- because Democrats cannot find the votes to reconcile the House and Senate versions.

(4) A renewed focus on job creation that lasted all of a week.

(5) A fiscal year 2011 budget that Democrats on the Hill do not want to be associated with.

More Palin Derangement Syndrome

(Video) PDS reared its ugly head on Joy Behar's show. For some reason Joy trotted out Ron Reagan Jr. to back her up. Atlas Shrugs Pamela Geller takes 'em apart.

Sarah Palin does remind people of President Reagan--even those who worked with the Great Comminicator.

Sincerity and moral character. A welcome message in America these days.

And let the elites bray.

More. Hillbuzz. Jacksonian Democrats turn to Palin.

More. Mary Katharine Ham. Gibbs goes after Palin.

Previous posts: Sweet Joins the Sexual Slurs Crowd, Smell the coffee, lefties, Palin Tweaks Liberals Again, The Full Palin Speech, Sarah's SOTU at the Tea Party, Breitbart on Fire!

Brennan Must Go

What happened to dissent is the finest form of patriotism? That was then, this is now. But beyond that--President Obama's National Security adviser is recklessly partisan. He is a national security adviser. The last few days were bad enough. Now John Brennan says those who raise questions about Mirandizing a terrorist are helping Al Qaeda. (But what about the Obama administration itself, before this latest debacle? Continuing the bizarrely selective transparency.) Victor Davis Hanson:

I wrote my Corner posting on John Brennan, Richard Clarke, et al. and the Obama's Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde attitude about criticizing government anti-terrorism protocols before Brennan's surreal op-ed in today's USA Today.

Look. Most Americans support the war on terror. There are two fronts--we fight overseas in part to protect our American way of life at home. Don't fool around with our fight against terror on the home front. Fire John Brennan. And Eric Holder while you're at it. Get serious on national security Mr. President.

More. Ralph Peters: White House playing politics with terror.

WSJ: Cheney's Revenge. The Obama Administration is vindicating Bush antiterror policy.

Government "Healthcare" Breaches Privacy

In California, the belly-up state, what will they blank up next? At least the whole country isn't stuck with this kind of care. Yet. The Sacramento Bee:

The Department of Health Care Services said Monday it has breached the privacy of 49,352 people who receive adult day-care services from the state.

The department said that letters it mailed a week ago to 49,352 Medi-Cal beneficiaries wrongly included each patient's Social Security number on their address labels.

The department said the security incident took place Feb. 1, but it was only told about it on Thursday. It started to notify the 49,352 beneficiaries about the problem over the weekend.

Where do they go to get their privacy back?

P.S. We've had this kind of SNAFU on a smaller scale in Illinois.

Can Sean Duffy Defeat David Obey?

Time thinks he could. The Ashland, Wisconsin Republican is getting some attention at home too.

Previous posts: Wisconsin's Sean Duffy Gets a Look, Dump Obey, Going After Obey

FOIA Reveals Americans 2-1 in favor of drilling

Transparency??? The President's Blocking Off Shore Drilling And Not Telling US

During his State of the Union Address President Obama gave us hope that the US would finally tap its own resources to make us energy independent:

The lies keep piling up.

I had this flagged to blog about. Don and Roma are talking about the IBD editorial and American Solutions FOIA request this morning.

omg

Chris Muir scores!:)

Love you.

We are. We endure and triumph. Triumph.

It's not snark if it's true.

We shall overcome:)

UPDATE: Corrected numbers, but the point still stands. They are making big bucks. And for what.

A Halo Around the Sun

Too bleak for pix around here these days. So go for the unearthly. APOD.

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Politico's getting a little fed up. Obama the scold:

The White House says Obama’s admonitions, whether to the Supreme Court about campaign finance law or to Congress about pork-barrel spending, are simply part of his drive to change the ways of the capital.

“A central part of the president’s vision for bringing change to Washington is fulfilling one of his earliest campaign promises: telling people not just want they want to hear but what they need to hear,” said Josh Earnest, White House deputy press secretary.

Get rid of this kid. Too earnest. Or let's say the wrong kind of Earnest. There's earnest, and then there's Earnest: Leave us alone. Let us get on with our lives. Stop spending the country into oblivion! (If we want to spend ourselves into oblivion, that's our prerogative--don't take OUR CHOICE away from us!!!)

Support the Iranian People

Ahmadinejad threatens the west and his own people. Thursday is the 31st anniversary of the Iranian "revolution" that put their Islamic dictators into power.

Support Iran resistance. Will Tehran Choose Tiananmen Solution? - Amir Taheri, The Times:

Over the past eight months, however, the dispute has moved beyond the issue of a stolen election as a fully-fledged pro-democracy movement has emerged that rejects the Khomeinist regime.

Even some former regime grandees, such as former President Khatami and Mir Hossein Mousavi, the former Prime Minister and main opposition candidate in last June’s presidential election, now publicly admit that the Khomeinist revolution has failed and that theocracy always leads to despotism.

Suddenly Mr Ahmadinejad and Mr Khamenei appear to have become irrelevant as millions of people in insurrectional mood are pitted against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, which must decide whether to abandon the regime or drown its opponents in a bloodbath.

The authorities hanged protesters last week from the last round. If they weren't already beaten to death.

Time to speak up, Mr. President.

More.

IranStreets

Preparing For 1979 Anniversary: Internet Disruption And New Dumpsters http://bit.ly/aCsSz1

IranStreets

Arrest of Maryam Ghanbari lawyer & women's rights activist http://bit.ly/bNLxvU

Defend Muslim women. Mr. President?

More.

ChiNewsBench

Shit's Hitting the Fan Soon: RT @MexCAN RT @IranOntime: Khamenei: West can't save Israel - Haaretz.com ~ http://bit.ly/clj2AF

The real police state

UNREAL: DHS Collected Information on Wisconsin Pro-Life Activists Even Though They Posed No Security Threat, Attempted to Destroy Copies of Report...

We were jeered at by most of the left for being outraged last year.

HT Instapundit.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali at the UW

Via Ann Althouse. Video and comments.

...her foundation: The AHA Foundation. Women everywhere, of all cultures, merit access to education and basic human rights

Related posts: Code Pinkos Next Target, Let's ask the left, What about the women?, Honor Killings not Simply Abuse, Islamo-Fascism Awareness, America Must Stand Behind Hirsi Ali, Hirsi Ali Speaks Up

Joe Walsh at the Tea Party

Winning GOP candidate in Illinois 8th congressional. Daily Herald.

Sweet Joins the Sexual Slurs Crowd

She puts it in quotes but it's still there and elicited what she expected.

Who would have thought that political correctness would have evolved from those smiley-faced inanities in the 70's to excusing gross sexual slurs against Americans the left doesn't agree with.

Perhaps it was Palin that tipped her over the edge.

Perhaps we should ask Sweet's usual subject the First Lady if she thinks this is appropriate language for the public discourse. But then her husband has already used that term.

P.S. Will this kind of smutty talk play in Iowa? Poll: 33% of Iowans across the political spectrum support tea partiers

P.P.S. Wake up and smell the coffee, lefties.

More. Critical Narrative:Left Attacks Sarah Palin with Junior High Level Sexual Jokes

Previous post: Smell the coffee, lefties

A Disingenuous Administration

Video. ‘We Weren’t Told’: Hoekstra Fires Back at Claim GOP Knew Christmas Bomber was Mirandized

Byron York with more.

More. TWS: Brennan Digs Administration Deeper on Miranda Rights for Abdulmutallab. Obama's top counterterrorism adviser accuses Republicans of playing politics with national security.

Wake up and smell the coffee, lefties:)

2/8: Obama Approval Rating Below 50% ... Disapproval Among Majority of Independents

75% Are Angry At Government's Current Policies

More. RCP average below 50%.

Smell the coffee, lefties:)

A lot of lefty bloggers made a huge deal out of notes written on Palin's hand; supposedly they nullify every teleprompter joke ever told about Obama. NRO's Spriuell: "On another level, the prompter jokes took off because they reinforce the substantive argument that Obama is in over his head, because they indicate that he can't perform the presidency's basic public-speaking duties without a major safety net. I'm not sure what substantive argument Palin's hand-notes are supposed to underline, and I suspect it's not an argument so much as an attitude. The attitude would be that writing on your hand is dumb and low-class. On the left, where this opinion of Palin already prevails, anything which reinforces it will be picked up and cheerfully passed around. And, to the extent that anyone not on the left notices this giddy snobbery, it will play to Palin's strengths. For example, one might say: 'Unlike the guy who needs a three thousand dollar teleprompter to get out of bed in the morning, Palin speaks from concise notes like everybody else. And, like other busy moms, she sometimes writes notes on her hand.' The comeback is so obvious that, again, I really can't figure out why Palin's detractors are bringing this up at all."

I think that if you look closely, you can see one of the phrases on her hand says, "It's not pronounced corpse-man."

---Geraghty's Morning Jolt. Lame-o Silva.

More. Matthew Continetti, who has written an excellent biography of Sarah Palin, weighs in.

Previous post: Palin Tweaks Liberals Again

ACORN/SEIU Local 880 Nominee to NLRB

Filibuster likely, and for good reason. The NLRB is supposed to be impartial, not a rubber stamp for organized labor. National Legal and Policy Center:

This past Tuesday, February 2, the Labor Committee held another confirmation hearing. As before, the nominee's answers raised questions. At one point, McCain asked Becker: "Do you perform work for and provide advice to ACORN or ACORN-affiliated groups while employed by your current employers on a volunteer basis?" The nominee's response: "Senator McCain, I have never done so."

Yet evidence indicates Becker has counseled SEIU Local 880, the roughly 80,000-member Chicago-based home and health care workers union which last spring merged with another union bargaining unit, SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana. The local was founded as an ACORN project some 30 years ago and affiliated with the SEIU during the mid Eighties. The address listed on its most recent U.S. Labor Department annual financial disclosure form is 209 West Jackson Avenue, Suite 200, Chicago, Illinois. That's the same building as the national headquarters of ACORN Housing Corporation, an ACORN affiliate. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., among other members of Congress, last year presented extensive evidence that Local 880 for years has functioned as what amounts to a money-laundering operation for ACORN funds.

Read on.

In other ACORN news, their head Bertha Lewis: Bertha Lewis Departs From WFP, Perjury Charges Possible In Staten Island Case

And ACORN is eligible for up to $3.99 billion in the new Obama budget, as yet unapproved.

More. Michael Barone: Public-sector Unions Bleed Taxpayers to Help Dems

More. Obama Order Locking Out Non-Union Construction Companies Marks One Year Anniversary

More. Jobs bill could contain Card Check

Previous posts: 10th District Dirty Tricks by Coulson/SEIU?, Big Media Malpractice, O'Keefe Messes Up, Cowards and Killings, Blago Opening Shot vs. The Big O, ACORN Corruption Continues, ACORNGate?, And that's the way it is, The Crooks at ACORN, ACORN's Preferential Treatment, Rotten ACORN, Holder in the hot seat... , ACORN Raided in the Bayou State

Alexi, Still Shady

UPDATE:Banking Bloodbath: Illinois Has Second Most Bank Failures After Georgia

Crain's Chicago Business reports on the prospects of Broadway Bank and others.

Video***From the Illinois Republican Party:

Day 11: Giannoulias Changes the Rules on Broadway Bank Questions

“If I’m fortunate enough to make it out of the primary, we can have that conversation.” - Alexi Giannoulias, Associated Press, 1/29/10

"Asked prior to last Tuesday’s primary election about the bank’s questionable loans, Giannoulias said he would discuss the matter after the election. But Giannoulias said Sunday the questions he now faces are the same ones he answered while running for treasurer four years ago." - State Journal Register, 2/7/10

WASHINGTON – After promising local and national reporters he would answer questions surrounding his role in the near-collapse of Broadway Bank and the bank's recent FDIC consent decree, Democrat Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias (D-IL) yesterday refused to answer any questions on the matter claiming he had already answered questions during his run for State Treasurer.

Just before the February 2nd primary, the FDIC entered into a consent decree with the Giannoulias family's Broadway Bank - ordering the family to raise more than $50 million. The order came after reports that Giannoulias and his family removed $70 million in profits from the bank just before the real estate market collapsed - and that many of the failing loans and investments were authorized by Giannoulias while he was the bank's Chief Loan Officer. (Crain's Chicago Business, 1/27/10)

Giannoulias immediately came under attack by his primary opponents, David Hoffman and Cheryle Jackson:

Another candidate in next week's Democratic primary for the Senate seat, Cheryle Jackson, called on Giannoulias to withdraw from the race. She said the bank controversy has "made him unelectable, probably in the primary and certainly in the general [election]." (Chicago Sun-Times, 1/27/10)

Hoffman's campaign manager, Michael Powell, said the bank's risky loans and insider dividends caused "a likely bailout and takeover by the FDIC." He called it "further evidence of what a disaster Mr. Giannoulias would be as the Democratic nominee for Senate." (Chicago Sun-Times, 1/27/10)

"The reason that this Broadway Bank story and revelation is of such significance now is because it goes to the heart of matters of job performance and character," Senate candidate David Hoffman said at a news conference. (NBC 5 Chicago, 1/29/10)

When confronted by Chicago and national media on January 28, 2010, Giannoulias responded: “If I’m fortunate enough to make it out of the primary, we can have that conversation.” (Associated Press, 1/29/10)

Since winning the primary, however, Giannoulias changed his tune and continues to dismiss questions.

When asked direct questions on FOX News Chicago last week, the Senate hopeful refused to answer any direct questions.

Yesterday, the Springfield Journal-Register reported:

Giannoulias, who appeared with Durbin at his Springfield home this afternoon, again sought to distance himself from questions surrounding financially shaky Broadway Bank, which is owned by his family and where he was a senior loan officer before becoming treasurer.

Recently, the bank entered a consent decree with state and federal regulators that requires it to raise new capital, sell troubled assets and improve management.

Asked prior to last Tuesday’s primary election about the bank’s questionable loans, Giannoulias said he would discuss the matter after the election. But Giannoulias said Sunday the questions he now faces are the same ones he answered while running for treasurer four years ago.

Given Alexi Giannoulias' blatant attempt to cover-up his role at the Broadway Bank, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) issued the following suggested questions for reporters to ask Giannoulias today:

· On January 28th you told reporters you would answer questions about Broadway Bank if you won the primary - and yesterday you claimed you didn't have to answer any questions about Broadway Bank because you already did. Does this mean you misled the voters in order to win the primary election?

· Did your decision to remove millions of dollars from Broadway Bank lead to the bank’s now-brink of collapse? How many of the bank's failed investments and real estate holdings were acquired during your time as Chief Loan Officer? Will you help to recapitalize the bank? (Crain’s Chicago Business, 02/01/2010)

· Did you authorize $15.4 million in loans to Michael “Jaws” Giorango – a crime boss that ran prostitution rings and engaged in illegal gambling? Do you think it's hypocritical to condemn Scott Lee Cohen's involvement with a prostitute when you authorized loans to a known mob-linked pimp? (Chicago Tribune, 02/05/2010)

Learn more about Giannoulias’ record by visiting the NRSC's new web site.

Related posts: Big Government Proponent Cuomo's Culpability, Kirk Upfront on the Issues, The Hooker Connection, Foul-Smelling, Foul-Talking Illinois Dems, Pot, Meet Kettle, Make my day, Dems

Palin Tweaks Liberals Again

You Betcha!… Palin Campaigns For Rick Perry– Writes “Hi Mom” On Her Hand! (Pics)

Video of Texas stop. Breitbart.

Previous posts: The Full Palin Speech, Sarah's SOTU at the Tea Party, Breitbart on Fire!

Is Rahmbo on the Chopping Block?

Via RCP, Core Chicago Team Sinking Obama Presidency, which discusses a searing Financial Times article by Edward Luce. All take no prisoners campaigning, no governing. Yes, he even has his political advisers take part in national security meetings. His cabinet are props while his numerous unaccountable political operative czars move the levers behind the scenes.

All campaigning no governing. Well, golly gee, why is this a surprise? The Dem machine Obama springs from runs everything in Illinois and manages nothing. Obama himself believed running a campaign would be like running the country. (And his only other management experience was similarly hollow and spectacularly unsuccessful--shut up, just shut up!!!)

Unemployment here is over 11%, Illinois is 48th in business-friendly environments and taxpayers and jobs are leaving the state, which is essentially bankrupt with huge unfunded public-sector union pension obligations. Corruption and sleaze are endemic among Illinois Dems who have rarely had to be accountable to the voters. That may change this year. In Illinois, and nationally.

Democrats persist in thinking it's a communications problem. It's a policy problem.

He keeps the Rezko-tainted Valerie Jarrett close by his side (she may be Rahm's replacement), and Astroturf Axelrod prepping Gibbs with sneering spin, but they're having trouble juggling the lies lately. Barack Obama ran as a smiley-faced (lying) centrist. Once in office he blatantly broke numerous promises and backed the leftist policies pushed by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

Rahmbo was his point man on all of that.

Rahm may not be welcome at home either. (Then again, maybe Mike Madigan will appoint him Lt. Governor)

Eric Holder is the one cabinet member who has been out in front--his criminal incompetence and mind-spinning inconsistency on Gitmo/Thomson, the terror trials and the Christmas bomber may get him fired before Rahm.

...then again, the President may double down, as he did in his SOTU. Because he's an ideologue for one. The other reason is that he doesn't have the intellectual or managerial confidence to handle the Team B suggestion of Mr. Clemons. He has to keep the Chicago Way people close--because he doesn't know any other way.

Big Government Proponent Cuomo's Culpability

In the housing-fueled economic meltdown. Bill Clinton's HUD Secretary and current NY AG Andrew Cuomo is suing Bank of America. What gall. WSJ. Prosecutor, Charge Thyself. Andrew Cuomo has more to answer for than does Bank of America. (Emphasis mine):

HUD's Web visitors learn that in 1999 "Secretary Cuomo established new Affordable Housing Goals requiring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—two government sponsored enterprises involved in housing finance—to buy $2.4 trillion in mortgages in the next 10 years. This will mean new affordable housing for about 28.1 million low- and moderate-income families. The historic action raised the required percentage of mortgage loans for low- and moderate-income families that the companies must buy from the current 42 percent of their total purchases to a new high of 50 percent—a 19 percent increase—in the year 2001."

And let's not forget Uncle Barney and the other Dem accomplices to this mess.

Throw the bums out this fall! Burning Down the HOUSE: P.S. Obama: Follow the Money. Illinois, lately headlining nationally with its early primary, is a cesspool. Obama's money-man Tony Rezko, convicted of fraud, hasn't been sentenced yet. Tony Rezko also funded the impeached Dem governor Rod Blagojevich in a big way, whose trial starts this June. And the Dem candidate for Obama's former seat, briefly inhabited by Blago's Bleepin Golden appointment gone wrong, is one Alexi Giannoulias. Currently Illinois State Treasurer with Obama's support providing the margin of victory, Giannoulias was banker to Rezko, mobsters, and an early big bucks' supporter of our President Barack Obama. Giannoulias is now dogged by the impending failure of the family Broadway Bank, and of his mishandling of college loan money. (And what about that hooker connection?)

Are you sick of this yet? Are you outraged at this political posturing and thuggish big government behavior? While the country pays for all of this?

More. Banking bloodbath in Illinois.

Bayh's Lurch Left Makes Him Vulnerablhe

A tough sell in Indiana. Donald Lambro, Washington Times.

Bias against children

Our entitlement programs overtax families with children. People who make the financial sacrifices needed to raise children are paying twice for those entitlements, both via their payroll taxes and via those sacrifices. Those who don't have kids benefit in retirement from the fact that others have made those financial sacrifices. The tax credit for children should not be considered a special-interest tax break that we should try to move away from. It should be seen, rather, as a partial corrective to the bias against children in federal fiscal policy — and it should be expanded in order to provide a complete offset.

The EU Smoothed the Road

A fascinating article. Dexter Filkins at the Kabul Gorge:

“The fighting with the Taliban lasts only for a day or two, but the crashes are every day,” said Juma Gul, who owns a fabric shop in Sarobi that looks directly out onto the highway. “It’s a kind of theater. Sometimes, a car will fly by in the air.”

Afghanistan--even the roads are dangerous!!!

Green Police

This is my Super Bowl ad pick. LOL. Trending on Twitter. The ad here.

Lightbulb crackdown.

Out of my cold dead hands.

P.S. I drive a diesel. Not that green brand.

P.P.S. OK, this one was cute too.

And this one, well, we all appreciate it. Tucked in between the all-American sports. UPDATE.

SLC Drops Out

Madigan exerts muscle.

Dems.

Pre Super Bowl Tea Party

Having a cup this afternoon after walking the dog in the bare winter sunshine

....But some analysts liken this performance to a “sugar high,” fun while it lasts.

Schakowsky of the Felonious Spouse

Bill Baar's West Side: Rep Jan Schakowsky advising Scott Lee Cohen ...
to step aside.

Robert Creamer went to jail for bank fraud. In aid of his wife's campaign. Still obscene. As is she.

P.S. You really have to wonder why the Dems think Cohen will "hurt the ticket". What a joke these pompous and corrupt Dem "leaders" are.

Previous post: Prostitute Says Cohen Unfit to Hold Office

Kirk Upfront on the Issues

Video. Takes on Giannoulias, mentions Alexi's signing off on loans to known Chicago mobsters. Talks about Illinois' fiscal concerns, our high unemployment, and terrorism/ Thomson.

HT Steve Bartin.

Bill Brady on Fox Chicago Now

Watching. He says he thinks there will be no recount...

Respects Sen. Dillard's position to wait until the absentees are in and counted.

People are already asking how can they help in the next phase--Gov. Quinn wants to raise your taxes, if he does that we'll lose jobs.

...Brady's such an articulate candidate.

The Full Palin Speech

Video.

Q & A here and here.

Gov. Palin will be on FoxNews Sunday today.

P.S. Dan Riehl debunks the latest goofball liberal rumor. (UPDATE) Big whoop. Six words.

More.

andrewbreitbart

NY TIMES: Tea Party Looks to Move From Fringe to Force http://tinyurl.com/yhh2jrm

More.

JimPethokoukis

Talking about "crony capitalism" and "pro-market" agenda (not pro-business) Palin is a free-market populist. MSM: Go read Luigi Zingales

University of Chicago Booth (business) School Professor Luigi Zingales.
Robert C. McCormack
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Finance

More. In reference to Palin's speech and FoxNews Sunday interview today:

kathrynlopez

palin's "sit down and shut up" description of the white house attitude sounded accurate 2me -- http://tinyurl.com/ykod995

Sarah's SOTU at the Tea Party

Pix***I especially liked her line that JFK didn't blame his predecessors:)

More takes here and here.

P.S. President Palin trending on twitter. No teleprompter gets notice.

More. RCP video: Palin: "We Need A Commander-In-Chief, Not A Professor Of Law"

More.

BrentTeichman

Palin: "Gov't is supposed to be working for the people. THAT is what this movement is about." | Amen. #teaparty #tcot #sgp

dcexaminer

Sarah Palin calls Obama's proposed budget 'immoral' for increasing national debt: http://twurl.nl/g827cz

hotairblog

Quotes of the day: “How’s that hopey changey thing working out for you?” [...] Read the rest » http://bit.ly

instapundit

ANN ALTHOUSE: Sarah Palin was a blithering idiot until she became a devious genius. …: ANN ALTHOUSE: Sarah Pali... http://bit.ly/dabjAZ

Prostitute Says Cohen Unfit to Hold Office

And she has celebrity feminist Gloria Allred as her lawyer now.

Who will Allred go after next? Maybe Alexi? Anyone else the machine Dems want to conveniently destroy? (They liked Blago when he was useful to them)

Hey, why do we need elections anyway. Just let someone like Tony Rezko appoint everyone.

More.

ChiNewsBench

What about Barney Frank? RT @nbcchicago Cohen's ex-gf, a convicted prostitute, says Cohen unfit for office http://bit.ly/bNQEVG

More. Pat Hickey.

Related posts: Not Joining the Sanctimonious Dem Chorus, Illinois is Kryptonite to Superman Obama, The Hooker Connection, Foul-Smelling, Foul-Talking Illinois Dems, Pot, Meet Kettle, Make my day, Dems

Mad Max on the New Jersey Turnpike?

But, if they’re “unsustainable,” what happens when they can no longer be sustained? A failure of bond auctions? A downgraded government debt rating? Reduced GDP growth? Total societal collapse? Mad Max on the New Jersey Turnpike?

Russian Bear & French Surrender Monkeys

Russian Media Censorship Goes Transnational. France gets an assist.

Breitbart on Fire!!

Video at the Tea Party.

More. Breitbart against the bastards

Related. A massive journalistic failure. The Spectator:

Yet, this time round, despite 20 years of being told they were not just factually but morally wrong, of being compared to Holocaust deniers, of being told they deserved to be tried for crimes against humanity, of being avoided at parties, climate sceptics seem to be growing in number and confidence by the day. What is the difference?

We have our own parties:)

...And here in Chicago the MSM had to connect with the winning GOP gubernatorial candidate on Skype because they didn't have someone there to cover him. They didn't even call their local affiliate. Any blogger can link on Skype. But then they didn't see this coming.

Related post: Zorn's Predictable

Dillard and that rat Cellini

John Kass. HT John Ruberry.

Same old, same old (scroll down, lots of bodies) Got to go. Concede, Kirk Dillard.

We want a new day in Illinois.

Not Joining the Sanctimonious Dem Chorus

Daley won't call for Cohen to step down Clout St.

AP Throws Pity Party for Dems In Illinois Lt. Gov. Nominee Stories Newsbusters

"Bombshell" to Explode Governor Paterson? Gothamist (another former Lt. Gov.)

P.S.(emphasis mine)

"Mr. Cohen is not going to be the lieutenant governor," said Durbin, who chastised the party and the media for not doing a better job vetting candidates

That's rich, coming from you Sen. Durbin. Does nine separate federal investigations ring a bell.

More. Team America:New Dem Campaign Slogan: "Alexi Giannoulias -- At Least He's Not Scott Lee Cohen"; The "Adlai Option"; Plus Local Updates

More. Chicago Mob Linked Alderman Stone Says Cohen Should Stay on Democratic Ticket

Previous posts: Illinois is Kryptonite to Superman Obama, The Hooker Connection, Foul-Smelling, Foul-Talking Illinois Dems, Pot, Meet Kettle, Make my day, Dems

Twitpics from Space

Popular Science photo gallery. This one's the Maldives.

Happy Birthday Mr. President

The Peoria Journal Star: Keeping Reagan's legacy alive. Michael Reagan speaks to Ronald Reagan Society on 99th anniversary of former president's birth. Top of the Ticket: Webcast at the Reagan Library. Here. 12:30 central.

The Big Bus

instapundit

ERIC HOLDER HEADING UNDER THE BUS? “Even more ominous for Holder: Rahm Emanuel is making it clear t…: ERIC HOLDER... http://bit.ly/9ydn5Y

The Big Bus.

The Movie.

None of this seems to be working to shore up support for the criminal-justice model, which the Obami have insisted on employing, in part because the legal arguments are weak (e.g., disregarding the military-commission system, now in place to handle these cases) and in part because neither the public nor members of Obama’s own party think it makes sense to try KSM in a civilian court, Mirandize a terrorist, or ship Guantanamo detainees to the U.S.

P.S. 10th congressional Rep. Mark Kirk and state Sen. Bill Brady stepped up on Thomson when it was not an easy thing to do. That caught the attention of this conservative. And that surely contributed to their primary wins on Tuesday, rising as Republican candidates for U.S. Senate and Illinois governor.

Related posts: Foul-Smelling, Foul-Talking Illinois Dems, The Holder 300, The Miranda Approach to Terror, Dems start to crack on Thomson, Strike that Spending, Stop that Terror

Snopocalypse Edition

Ruby Slippers Saturday reading.

P.S. Snopocalypse now: Pending snowstorm causes cancellation of William Ayers lecture ...

...it will have to wait.

Manage those pests!

There are early signals that voters are willing to welcome new blood. In an Illinois Republican primary on Tuesday, pest-management company manager Bob Dold upset the initial party favorite, State Rep. Beth Coulson. Mr. Dold now faces Dan Seals, the Democrats' unsuccessful 2006 and 2008 nominee, in what could be one of the most competitive contests this year.

We know what works.

We have a lot of pests in Illinois. Gotta fumigate the state!

The most important thing

Ramirez.

Illinois is Kryptonite to Superman Obama

Ha. Hardball. Video here.

Matthews bemoans the demise of the MSM and the machine.

And The One.

Via Capitol Fax (emphasis mine):

Due to their nonprofit status, most of the representatives couldn’t publicly demand that Cohen withdraw from the ballot. Nonetheless, they strongly repudiated his candidacy. “My immediate response,” said Kelly White of the Chicago Foundation for Women, “was completely and totally appalled.”

Gee, I don't remember you or your feminist friends speaking up for Paula Jones...or Kathleen Willey...or Jaunita Broaddrick.

No, no, no the feminists never speak up unless it's to their political advantage.

Illinois Dems are slimeballs. Or slimeball enablers.

Friday night photos

Kalyn's Super Bowl shrimp recipes.

Zorn's Predictable

The Kos push poll, shoehorning responses. That's why I don't answer the phone anymore. Most push polls are ludicrous--and I was severely tempted at times just to screw with the pollster. And at times I did. I think the last one was on Carol Mostly Fraud.

Why are liberals so condescending?

Why are the Dems losing even in blue Massachusetts? (where the Obama-backing geniuses at my alma mater Harvard blew $1.8 billion of their endowment)

Sure, we're the ones who are deranged.

Young Barack Statue Moved

...fading enthusiasm for the president, even in his old strongholds like Menteng and Massachusetts! The Facebook group creators have been quoted arguing that Obama has not yet accomplished enough for a statue to have been erected in his honor,...

Perfect Storm for Illinois Senate Seat

A Massachusetts-style GOP takeover. We know Republican Mark Kirk pulled more votes than ethically-challenged Dem Alexi Giannoulias. Now Michael Barone crunches and analyzes the numbers.

And those numbers reflect sentiment even before the latest blockbuster scandal.

Democrats are scrambling but this time their sleaze might sink them. They don't have The One to put the wind in their sails.

That tea party that started with Chicago's Santelli may finish them off.

Related posts: The Hooker Connection, Foul-Smelling, Foul-Talking Illinois Dems, Pot, Meet Kettle, Make my day, Dems, One-Two Punch on Cap & Trade, The Fringe Kerfuffle

Whiskey Conservation

After being buried in Antarctic ice for 100 years, crates of whiskey have been discovered with several bottles intact:

Richard Paterson, master blender at Whyte and Mackay, whose company supplied the Mackinlay's whisky for Shackleton, described the find as "a gift from the heavens" for whisky lovers.

"If the contents can be confirmed, safely extracted and analysed, the original blend may be able to be replicated," he said.

"Given the original recipe no longer exists this may open a door into history."

Thankfully no lives were lost on the expedition. Having run out of supplies short of their goal, they prudently turned back, leaving the whiskey behind. Scientists and historians will doubtless subject the discovery to careful analysis for some time.

No word on the penguins and the whiskey slushies.

The Dem Assault on Paul Ryan

Key fact: Ryan's plan preserves the current entitlement system for everyone over the age of 55. The rest of us will see dramatic changes in the structure of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the tax code--changes the CBO says will solve the long-term budget problem, in ways that increase individual choice and limit government's scope. If nothing is done, America faces high interest rates, inflation, and economy-crushing tax rates. Is this the future Democrats prefer? After all, they have provided no alternative way to achieve the Roadmap's outcomes.

Why is the assault on Ryan irresponsible? Because Democrats are pretending that America's future budget obligations aren't a serious problem. They have no proposals to limit the growth in entitlements other than phantom reductions in Medicare reimbursement rates, a parodic "spending freeze," and independent commissions whose recommendations Congress will probably ignore. Democrats clearly hope they can preserve their majorities by demagogic attacks on Ryan. Meanwhile, the crisis approaches.

The Holder 300

Byron York: Who are the 300 terrorists held in U.S. prisons?

More. Stephen F. Hayes, TWS. Politicizing Intelligence. The Obama Administration leaks and spins.

The Hooker Connection

UPDATE: Scotty's Hottie. Tribune. Pix at RoeConn.com.He met her at a Glenview (Chicago suburbs, not downstate) massage parlor.***(And we still don't know who is client 10. From Chicago. Maybe Blago knows.) The new Dem Lt. Gov. primary winner puts his hooker in the headlines. Machine Dems are trying to sanitize themselves somehow. Will more air-freshener work? Or some cheap perfume? Um, bad idea. But is there more? How about the Senate race? John Kass, Chicago Tribune--do you remember Rose Laws?:

What shocked the Viagra out of political guys was that black book she kept, including client names and appetites.

The black book was seized by Chicago police in a raid. But this being Chicago, land of open government, the black book was dumped in a police warehouse and mysteriously lost.

Sadly, historians will never know which top politicians liked to dress up in furry squirrel suits and which ones insisted on the Bo Peep look.

In 2002, Laws was sentenced to 22 months in federal prison. The circuit's Outfit protector, Michael "Jaws" Giorango, was convicted of promoting a nationwide prostitution ring and sentenced to six months federal time.

Even before his last prison stay, Giorango had reinvented himself as a real estate investor.

Dem Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias, banker to Jaws. And real estate. Does that ring a bell? People trying to get their hands on real estate. As a means to an end.

By hook or by crook.

The seaminess never ends with these Illinois Dems.

P.S. The Hooker Connection and all the sleaze befouls the state and the race for the Obama Senate seat.

Foul-Smelling, Foul-Talking Illinois Dems

Rumors abound that the incompetent Gov. Pat Quinn is cooking up a deal with Dem House Speaker Iron Mike Madigan to push out the duly-elected but scandalous Dem Lt. Governor pick--latest, he stiffed his ex for child support while spending millions on his campaign-- and replace him with someone more air-freshened, and Chicago machine. (Like Quinn's losing Dem gubernatorial opponent Dan Hynes. Good luck with that.) And this surfaces--Blago's estranged father-in-law alderman Dick Mell backed Scott Lee Cohen in the primary. He sure knows how to pick 'em.

Ditto on the Illinois Senate race, where the Dems (and our president Barack Obama) are fouled by the stench of current Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' ties to mobsters , Tony Rezko, and Blago, and his mismanagement of a state college fund, among other things. The pressure will be on Alexi to withdraw in favor of someone else. Perhaps Rahmbo, who is clearly looking around for a new job though he has lately had to profusely apologize for especially offensive language.

Of course all this unsavory maneuvering reminds Illinois voters of the Blago Bleepin' Golden Senate pick, the selling of the seat, the angling for a new job and plush benefits--which is why Sen. Roland Tombstone Burris is not running for reelection.

Then there's the timing of Blago's trial, starting this June and leading smack up to the November election.

Underlying all of this the state is essentially bankrupt. Unemployment stinks at 11%, above the national average--that's what we're left with--above average in failure.

And with the early primary (done to game the presidential primaries for then candidate Barack Obama) we're stuck with this smelly Dem hell for months more.

P.S. Oh, and the latest hilarity is Alexi's opening shot against independent Republican Mark Kirk in the Senate race, suggesting Kirk is a Washington insider--and he's an outsider!!!--when the Dems run everything there (and manage nothing). Well, go ahead, rerun that old playbook. I don't think it will work in Illinois this time.

We can smell a rat from a mile away. We have been living here.

More. Illinois governor race moved from Dem to toss up. Rothenberg.

Barrier to the American Dream

Another Obama Tax Hike. The Senate health-care bill would raise effective marginal tax rates on lower and middle-income singles and families up to 41%. Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Alex Brill, WSJ

More. Save Money, Live Longer Want to fix health care? Make the health-care industry, not the government, more like Wal-Mart.

Pot, Meet Kettle

This is pretty funny, Giannoulias calls for Cohen to step down

Pot.

Kettle.

They're everywhere. Illinois Democrats.

More. Jim Geraghty, Morning Jolt:

So, just to clarify, seeking to turn the page on the era of Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris, the Democrats' statewide candidates this year are Rod's two-time running mate, Tony Rezko's banker, and the psycho ex-boyfriend who's blackmailing Katee Sackhoff's character on 24 this season.

What's the matter with Winnetka?

Is this progress? Deborah Meier invited to speak at Washburne on Feb. 10th.

Progressivism, (socialism?), using public education to mold the way children think: it's the Winnetka Way

A TRILLION right there

Roll back the remaining unspent $500 billion in stimulus funds, uphold the law and direct the $500 billion in TARP repayments to reduce the deficit.

If the president is serious about fiscal discipline he ought to commit to this right now. As a down payment on paying down the astronomical federal debt that is bringing this country to its knees.

The president's budget as outlined must not pass.

More. Rasmussen. Americans Reject Keynesian Economics:

While influential 20th Century economist John Maynard Keynes would say it’s best to increase deficit spending in tough economic times, only 11% of American adults agree and think the nation needs to increase its deficit spending at this time. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 70% disagree and say it would be better to cut the deficit.

In fact, 59% think Keynes had it backwards and that increasing the deficit at this time would hurt the economy rather than help.

To help the economy, most Americans (56%) believe that cutting the deficit is the way to go.

Eighty-three percent (83%) of Americans, in fact, say the size of the federal budget deficit is due more to the unwillingness of politicians to cut government spending than to the reluctance of taxpayers to pay more in taxes.

More. Heritage: Second Stimulus, Same as the First

When President Barack Obama was sworn into office, the U.S. economy employed 134.6 million people and the unemployment rate stood at 7.6%. In response to growing job losses, President Obama passed an $862 billion stimulus plan that his economic experts promised would help the United States employ at least 138.6 million people by 2010. Reality has not been kind to President Obama's hope. Today, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics released its monthly jobs report showing the U.S. economy shed another net 20,000 jobs, leaving only 129.5 million jobs, almost 10 million short of the President's promises.

Anticipating this bleak job news, the President announced in his State of the Union address last week: "That is why jobs must be our number one focus in 2010, and that is why I am calling for a new jobs bill tonight." It is understandable why the President wants to call this new legislation a "jobs bill" instead of what it really is: his second stimulus. But that would mean admitting that his first stimulus completely failed, which both the objective evidence and the opinion of the American people show it has.

And why did the President's first stimulus fail? For the same reason his second stimulus is destined to fail: Only the private sector in pursuit of opportunity can create jobs on net. The best we can hope from government is that it keeps to a minimum the jobs it prevents and the income and wealth it destroys.

Obama 75% Off

Borders still sells those two “memoirs” William Ayers wrote and tacked Dr. Utopia’s name on for full price, but everything else in the Obamaverse was marked down to less than what it cost to print the stuff up.

Previous post: Ayers: Obama is not the movement

Aw...

Chris Muir. That's life.

P.S. Sorry Dana, Scott Brown has more nous than you. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)

That's life.

Where's the corpse?

Obama Mispronounces "Corpsman" At Prayer Breakfast. Video.

Don't ask, don't tell.

P.S. Gallup: Every state is more conservative than liberal. Live free or die.

Demon Sheep Reach Canada!!!

Awk!!! MACLEANS. Perhaps they have some smart sheep to counterattack!!!

Or maybe these guys.

Or maybe these guys.

More.

Today, Fiorina’s other GOP primary opponent, state assemblyman Chuck DeVore, came out and said that his campaign will be a “demon-sheep-free zone.” DeVore supporters also set up DemonSheep.org, a spoof website for the “Society for the Eradication of Demon Sheep from our Political Discourse.”

The sheep shots, it seems, are just beginning.

For me it was the yard signs

Trying to get them in the frozen ground, then out again.

AnnaTarkov

Amen! RT @Trib_ed_board: Note to Illinois lawmakers: Push the primary back! http://tr.im/MRhL

Amen again.

Good News for Brady

The Pantagraph:

SPRINGFIELD -- Despite campaigning on behalf of Kirk Dillard, former Gov. Jim Edgar believes Bill Brady's slim lead in the Republican primary election for governor will hold up.

As it stands, Brady, the state senator from Bloomington, holds a 406-vote lead over Dillard, the state senator from Hinsdale. Election officials are still waiting on absentee and provisional ballots to trickle in after the close of voting Tuesday.

"I'm saying this as if the 406 votes are going to hold up. I suspect it will," Edgar said.

So maybe there won't be a recount. It sounds like Edgar as elder party statesman is not in favor of one. That would be good news.

More.

wlsam890

RT @WBEZ: Is Facebook giving Brady the edge? Brady leads Dillard by 406 votes, 889 friends http://bit.ly/9X4QQK

More. I did especially notice some hits on my Brady posts on election day. What do you know. I liked Proft, but I always knew he was a long shot and I hoped Brady might get a look as an alternative to the three establishment oldies. So I kept posting.

Senator Scott Brown (R-MA)

Uncut: Senator Brown's Remarks After Swearing-In. Watch.

Pence on the phony PAYGO

Video of remarks on the House floor. This latest debt increase of $1.9 TRILLION is larger than the GDP of almost every country in the world.

More. A Federal Budget That Insults All Budgets - Bill Flax, RealClearMarkets

Tort Reform Takes a Hit in Illinois

icjl

We're highlighted in this WSJ story about today's disappointing IL Supreme Court ruling: http://ow.ly/141d3 #tortreform #twill

Reaction via Illinois Review: from the office of House Minority Leader Tom Cross

Today’s ruling by the Illinois Supreme is especially disappointing because the law is working. With caps on non-economic damages and other reforms in place, competition has increased among insurance providers, medical malpractice insurance premiums have dropped between 5 and 30 percent, and doctors have begun to return to Illinois to care for families. Today’s ruling is a step backward, putting Illinois families at risk.”

Tiny Dinosaur Has Stripes

It was found in China.

Prum speculated that the color pattern of A. huxleyi could have served as a signal to attract mates.

The males always get the louder look in nature.

The Miranda Approach to Terror

Via TWS Blog: Flashback: Obama mocked Palin for saying he wanted to read terrorists their rights.

Scott Johnson, Powerline. Obama's Folly.

Andy McCarthy Re: Did Obama Reverse Himself on Miranda Rights for Terrorists? More here.

Rasmussen: Kirk Leads Alexi 46-40%

UPDATE: Kirk ad below. Take Back Illinois!***Results here. The first post-primary poll. Independents go heavily for Kirk.

More. NRO's Geraghty dissects the Illinois results. Giannoulias burning through money. And it's not even ours this time.Previous post: Kirk Pulls More Votes Than Alexi.

Blago Re-Indicted

On corruption charges. Awaiting his press conference.

Meanwhile he shares his Super Bowl picks as part of the run-up to his Celebrity Apprentice gig in March.

Related news you can abuse: Lt. gov. nominee: I won't drop out of race over abuse history:

“When the facts come to light, after my ex-wife and ex-girlfriend speak, the people of Illinois can decide, and I will listen to them directly,” Cohen said in a written statement. “There are questions, and I will provide all answers honestly and openly. I only ask for time to do the interviews.”

Competing for publicity with Blago...and the other Dem candidates in Illinois, like the present Dem governor. Currently not facing any criminal charges.

Related posts: Dem Lt. Governor Primary Winner Shocker: Pawnbroker & Hooker, Blago Gets the Mobster Treatment?, More Blago Cheap Entertainment, Blago: I'm Blacker than Barack Obama, Chicago, Chicago...Blago...Rahmbo , Blago Talks Elvis, Rahmbo, Blago Atty Wants The One, Blago Opening Shot vs. the Big O, Blago, a year after the arrest, Governor Gag

An Aspirational Campaign

Dan Proft says thank you. Video.

Thank YOU, Dan.

Are you kidding me?!!!

Taxpayers to Fork Out $2.5 Million for Single Census Ad During Super Bowl

Earnest Idiocy

Vaccinations do not cause autism:

So The Lancet, a British medical journal named after a really sharp object, retracted a horrible study linking the measles vaccine to autism.

Now this would really be great news if the study had not come out, oh, 12 years ago. It's really scary that it took a medical journal over a decade to admit what nearly everyone else with a working brain knew:

It's been an issue around here.

Measles Outbreak

Fatal Exemption

Let's lay this one to rest. So that we're not burying more children.

More:

When criticism of the paper intensified in the days after publication, Lancet editor-in-chief Dr. Richard Horton defended his decision to publish what he acknowledged as an inferior study by claiming it would generate debate on the autism/vaccine issue. Even when 10 of the original 13 authors withdrew their names from the article, Horton still refused to withdraw the study.

Nor did he take such action when multiple studies subsequently appeared showing no link between vaccines and autism. Nor even in 2004 -- when it was revealed that the lead author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, had been paid, in part, by lawyers for parents seeking to sue vaccine makers, claiming adverse health consequences.

All the publicity led many parents to forgo these vital infant immunizations: Vaccination rates in Britain, especially, plummeted. And since then, hundreds of unvaccinated children have been hospitalized in Britain with the measles. Some died of the illness.

Here in America, more than 1,000 children have died from H1N1 flu over the last year -- numbers that would surely be smaller had not so many parents been frightened away from getting flu shots by the general Wakefield-induced paranoia over vaccines.

Ray LaHood, Government Motors

The Obama administration's Secretary of Transportation, a product of the Illinois Combine, deliberately--yes I'm sure it's deliberate-- badmouths Toyota.

Gangster government. In cahoots with the porky and corrupt UAW.

If these guys have their way we'll be left with no car choices at all-- if we want a new car we'll be forced to swallow the Government Motors' version of the Yugo.

More. Cato.

Dem Lt. Gov Primary Winner Shocker: Pawnbroker & Hooker

Major media asleep at the wheel or looks the other way until after the election. And how about the Dem machine? Falling down on the job. Sun Times front page:

Election Winners Shocking Past: Pawnbroker who won Democratic nod for lieutenant governor was arrested several years ago for allegedly holding a knife to prostitute ex-girlfriend's neck.

Story. He told the Sun Times columnist Mark Brown about it months ago but Brown didn't take him seriously. Cohen says he fell in with the wrong crowd. Well. How about now. Tribune online this morning. These paragraphs from the print edition which somehow disappeared online:

Candidates for Illinois governor and lieutenant governor run separately in the primary but as a team in the general election--a quirk in state law that has led to some strange political marriages in the past and one notable disaster for Democrats. In 1986 , Democratic governor candidate Adlai Stevenson III bolted the party after primary voters paired him with a lieutenant governor candidate who was an acolyte of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche. Stevenson lost the general election.

The job has been described as the most boring office in state government and its occupants rarely have a meaningful role in policymaking. But the post took on new importance last year when Democrat Pat Quinn ascended to the top job after Rod Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges, impeached and ousted from office in January.

John Kass: A pawnbroker and a hooker story make Illinois elections into a political tearjerker.

This is Democrat Illinois, America.

More. RedState.

Perfect Salsa

Why not for breakfast?

Just the thing after a long campaign. There's a lot of bad salsa out there. Here's my list of demands.

Hamas hits

MEMRI TV on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

It's a movement!!!!

andylevy

This was the moment when the rise of the #demonsheep began to slow and our planet began to heal.

Where it all began...

Make my day, Dems

Flashback 2006: Giannoulias called " The Banker For People With Mob Associations" By Political Opponent

ABC TV Chicago has this flashback from 2006:

More.

bdomenech

Cannot stop laughing. http://bit.ly/b88VWO

Roskam vs. Orszag!

PeterRoskam

I told OMB’s Orszag today that no one believes his #stimulus talking points. Watch: http://bit.ly/b9HUz3

Multiculti-Challenged at MSNBC

Perhaps they speak Austrian like the president.

The Illinois Senate race gets ugly. MSNBC, you should be ashamed.

P.S. New Poll Shows Mark Kirk Beating Alexi Giannoulias 47-35. Team America:)

Previous post: Kirk Pulls More Votes Than Alexi.

All Precincts In

Fox Chicago:(with caveats on provisional, military and remaining absentee)

Governor - GOP Primary

11215 of 11215 Precincts Reporting - 100%

	Name	Party	Votes	Vote %
	Brady, Bill	GOP	155,263	20%
	Dillard, Kirk	GOP	154,857	20%

...Am going to listen to what they have to say on WTTW at 7. I suppose Dillard will ask for a recount. Which will take a few weeks.

More. Just watched the WTTW round-up. According to them you can't just demand a recount in Illinois because it's close--you have to have allegations of wrongdoing. And you can't ask for it until the official numbers are certified, which will take a couple of weeks itself.

OK, here is a summary of the rules:

Orr said he anticipates recount petitions despite the fact rivals are from the same party.

"In my experience, these inter party battles can be just as rancorous as any," he said.

In preparation, Orr's staff passed out the recount rules to reporters awaiting election results. They are:

*If a losing margin is within 5 percent of the winner, the candidate can demand a "discovery recount."

*In a discovery recount, the losing candidate can petition the clerk's office to retabulate votes in up to 25 percent of the precincts of the candidates choice.

*If the discovery recount uncovers evidence of missed votes or disenfranchisement, the candidate can then opt to sue in circuit court for a full recount, a process Orr said can take months to complete.

*Filing for discovery recount is March 1.

I would just say in their appearance together on WTTW Brady and Dillard refused to be drawn on that subject, and were gracious to each other.

This May Be the Greatest Campaign Web Video of All Time!!!!!

Geraghty.

Obama vs. Obama

RepMikePence

RT @gopconference: VIDEO: Obama v. Obama on Republicans' Better Solutions: http://bit.ly/cOg4lM (new!)

Iran Launches Mouse, Turtles in Space

And worms. The rocket was fired from an undisclosed desert location. Hilarious. But for the concern that Iran could tip these missiles with nukes. Times Online. Video.

More. They are hanging nine demonstrators this week.

A brutal Iran in our face.

Ryan vs. Geithner on the Killer TRILLION budget

The Corner:

In this context, watch Rep. Paul Ryan — fast becoming the intellectual leader of the elected Right — as he puts the screws to an evasive Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (ff to 62:15). Ryan confronts Geithner with a quote from a Wall Street Journal interview with OMB director Peter Orzag: "The 'unusual situation' the government finds itself in — with other countries willing to finance U.S. debt at low rates — 'won't last.' And, he added, 'When it flips, the question is how do you get ahead of that to avoid the downward spiral' of rising interest rates, a plunging dollar and a sinking economy."

Ryan looks up: "The vigilantes in the bond markets are going to get us, and the American people are going to get hurt. . . . Why aren't you giving us a budget — not punting to a commission — that, using your own definitions and standards, actually is sustainable?

Geithner evades: "When I left the Treasury in 2000, it was surpluses on OMB and CBO's rounds as far as the eye could see; when we came in it was a deep trench."

(Keith Hennessey's simple explanation should suffice to explode this annoying trope:

Read on. And (video) Sen. Judd Gregg loses total patience with OMB director Peter Orszag.

More. Peter Ferrara, TAS:Spending America Into Oblivion. In painful part:

All this record spending, deficits, and debt means your taxes are going to record levels as well, leaving you with a lower standard of living, which President Obama thinks is currently excessive anyway.

This new budget already provides for more than $2 trillion in new taxes on the American people over the next decade. That includes higher taxes on 3.2 million small businesses and upper income taxpayers by an average of $300,000 over that 10 years.

Under this budget, the top marginal income tax rate will be increased next year by close to 20%. The capital gains tax rate will be increased by 33%, and the top tax rate on corporate dividends goes up by 164%. President Obama also proposes in this budget to abolish the deduction for charitable giving and for home mortgage interest for millions of Americans.

He also proposes to "slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas." What tax breaks are those you should ask. President Obama thinks American companies are enjoying an unfair tax break if their overseas earnings are not subject to double taxation, once overseas and again here at home. No foreign country does that to their own companies. As Ryan Ellis of Americans for Tax Reform tries to explain, "There's no reason that an American company with an Irish subsidiary cannot become an Irish company with an American subsidiary. America has a 39 percent 'all-in' corporate rate. Ireland's is 12.5 percent."

But it's not all taxes "on the rich," which is a sucker line for simpletons with the economic sophistication of pirates. There is an $800 billion cap and trade tax which will be paid by everyone who uses electricity, gasoline, natural gas, home heating oil, or any product or service made or transported using any of these items. There are also taxes on health insurance and "medical devices," which includes condoms, tampons, contact lenses, hearing aids, and blood glucose monitors to control diabetes. When he was campaigning in 2008, President Obama promised us over and over he would not raise taxes on those making less than $250,000 per year "in an form." Now that he is President, that is all forgotten.

But this is only the beginning. President Obama is also promising to appoint a "Deficit Commission," with the job to report back on how to clean up this unprecedented mess he is making, after this year's elections of course. And the way to clean it up is going to be precisely a record breaking tax increase on those very people making less than $250,000 a year, as he is already plundering everyone else. He will say the Republicans on the Commission made him do it.

More. Michael Ramirez cartoon.

Ayers: Obama is not the movement

More. Et tu, EU?"shattered by The One's indifference"***UPDATE: And Obama Girl's crush fades!!!***Video. ‘Absolutely Not’: Bill Ayers Says Change Does Not Begin With Obama

...yes, Bill Ayers is enjoying being interviewed these days.

P.S. Maybe Bill should jump in here and commandeer the conversation:

BarackObama

If you haven't already, be sure to RSVP for tomorrow's online conversation with the #OFA community at 5:45pm ET: http://bit.ly/9-D

Previous posts: Our So Presidential Author, Barnes and Not So Noble Barack, Barack Obama, America's Author in Chief

Brady at Illinois GOP Unity BreakfastUPDATE WINS!!!

UPDATE 3:00 hour: Brady on WLS 890am radio: Says all the precincts are in, they're up 450 votes!!! The win is in!!! Unofficial***Talking to the press. Via Capitol Fax, video.

Race still tight, Brady still in the lead.

I suppose Dillard will demand a recount.

More*** Some military ballots may yet come in but Brady says normally would break in the same pattern as the election--but Brady goes on to say more military ballots come from downstate.

...absentees were counted in the precincts, but some may drift in and be counted if they were postmarked by midnight on Feb. 1st. There are some provisional ballots outstanding but I don't think they will be an issue in the Republican primary.

More. Capitol Fax:

* UPDATE 5 - 3:47pm - The Dillard campaign was hoping to pick up a net of about 100 votes in uncounted Chicago precincts. They fell just a bit shy. They also didn’t pick up what they thought they would on Cook County absentees.

They were saying earlier that they thought they were about 218 votes down, but that’s not happening yet, of course.

The more immediate problem for Sen. Dillard right now - and it’s one of perception - is that he claimed this morning that he would be ahead by “sundown” today. Sundown today is at 5:09 pm. That’s an hour and 22 minutes from now.

:)

More.

Bill_Brady

On Roe and Cisco this afternoon, WTTW tonight

Going after those anti-tax PBS voters. Yes, there are some.

...breathlessly awaiting Sen. Dillard's victory announcement--it's almost sundown, though actually you can't see the sun. Maybe that's his out.

Previous posts: A Note from Nancy Brady, Bill Brady for Illinois, Brady Debate Take, A Brady Surge?, Brady for Governor: A Clean Break

Purple People-Eaters

SEIU fatcats behind First Lady’s anti-obesity campaign

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Does Illinois Fit the New GOP Narrative?

The Middle Coast.

Kirk Pulls More Votes Than Alexi

Even though it's not the general election and primary voters could not split their ticket, Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk gets bigger numbers than Dem Chicago Machine candidate Alexi Giannoulias. RCP video Kirk speech.

Given Giannoulias' family Broadway Bank scandal, his poor handling of the college savings Bright Start fund, the Granny Grifter case, and his past associations with mobster Jaws Giorango and convicted felon (but still not sentenced) Tony Rezko, lots of Dem voters will walk away from him or vote for Kirk. Alexi, Illinois Shame. Banker to Tony Rezko and Barack Obama from way back.

The NRSC is already out with an ad.

P.S. And how about that Obama ad endorsing Alexi when he first ran. Obama made the difference to get this slimeball in.

Team America

1. - Newt Rier - Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 1:56 am:

   Glad to see New Trier township voted against that idiotic tax hike.




2. - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 1:57 am:

   LOL. Holy moly.




3. - shore - Wednesday, Feb 3, 10 @ 2:00 am:

   175 million dollars just to renovate the school. that’s the cost of BUILDING 6 chicago publich high schools.

   can we get an early winners and losers?

   Peter Fitzgerald is definitley a huge winner. 2 archenemies crash-mckenna, hastert jr. 3 of his former guys plummer, kinzinger, and higgins win big primaries.

   Team America. duh.

GOP Gov race 500 or so votes apart with Chicago counting resuming this morning.