http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/illinois/ en-us Wed, 7 Jan 2009 17:23:27 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2160318/posts <p>Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said this morning he has been made "the fall guy" by the U.S. Senate, which he said is using him as an excuse to not seat Roland Burris.</p> <p>"They could have seated him without my signature; my signature is not required," he told WGN-AM 720's John Williams.</p> Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2160318/posts#comment Wed, 7 Jan 2009 17:23:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2160250/posts DAMN !!! Now what are we going to do for entertainment? Read the Story Below: Fox News /Yidwithlid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2160250/posts#comment Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:55:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2151323/posts Crime in Chicago has been in the news lately, but it is nothing new. Historically it dates back over a hundred years. From the tale of the Gray Wolves http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/540.html The 1890s Chicago City Council was notorious for corrupt political practices orchestrated by a faction of its aldermen known as the Gray Wolves. So named because they were viewed as preying upon the defenseless public, the Gray Wolves were led by First Ward aldermen “Bathhouse” John Coughlin and “Hinky Dink” Mike Kenna, and Johnny Powers of the Nineteenth Ward. These elected officials were not only skilled at trading votes for... various http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2151323/posts#comment Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:25:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159742/posts Midwest News Illinois Prison Inmate's Family Wins $13 Million Settlement January 6, 2009 An Illinois prison inmate who killed his cellmate after apparently warning guards three times that's what he planned to do must pay the dead inmate's mother $13 million. A federal judge in Springfield ordered the award for Sherree Daczewitz in her 2006 lawsuit against Corey Fox and prison officials over her son Joshua Daczewitz's strangling in February 2004. She alleged that the state Department of Corrections and officials at the Menard Correctional Center in Chester should have known the risk Fox posed but didn't prevent the killing.... INSURANCE JOURNAL http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159742/posts#comment Tue, 6 Jan 2009 18:54:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159623/posts WASHINGTON -- Roland Burris headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to demand a seat in the 111th Congress, insisting that if he isn't allowed to take the oath of office as the next senator from Illinois, the Senate could have a lawsuit on its hands. Participating in the theatrics, Burris was greeted by Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer, a door-keeper and an official from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office before going to the appointment desk on the third floor and to the secretary of the Senate. There, his credentials were denied. Burris was appointed by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159623/posts#comment Tue, 6 Jan 2009 16:15:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159070/posts CHICAGO – Illinois' lieutenant governor says his state has become an "international laughing stock" and he wants to form a panel to find ways to clean up corruption. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn told WLS radio Monday that the public's highest priority should be urging scandal-tainted Gov. Rod Blagojevich (bluh-GOY'-uh-vitch) to resign. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2159070/posts#comment Mon, 5 Jan 2009 18:04:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2158847/posts For eight years, the president of the United States — the ex-officio socialite in chief — has turned up his nose at the slightest whiff of social aspiration. Now a new generation of Washington socialites has a dream. They see a dashing, young, brilliant president and his equally brilliant wife ushering in an era of inclusive entertaining. Gone is the white-gloved, debutante-loving, Pilgrim-pedigreed culture that still mattered in Kennedy’s Camelot and Reagan’s Hollywood East. Starting Jan. 20, when President Barack Obama and Michelle move into the White House, the “in crowd” will include just about everyone who, since the dawn... dcexaminer.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2158847/posts#comment Mon, 5 Jan 2009 09:57:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2158526/posts Senate Democratic leaders warned Roland Burris, the person Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich named to fill the senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama, that “he will rue the day if he tries to set foot on the senate floor.” “He’s out of his fricking mind if he thinks a ticket punched by a corrupt governor will get him in here,” said an incensed Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev). “I’ve instructed the doorkeepers to use whatever force is required to block him from coming in. If need be, the Capitol Police will kick his ass if that’s what it takes to... A Semi-News/Semi-Satire from AzConservative http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2158526/posts#comment Sun, 4 Jan 2009 16:54:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2158250/posts Roland "Tombstone" Burris goes to Washington this week as part of the Illinois political freak show, and many of us back home will watch it and feel like cringing, at least at the beginning. Who among us could not wince at the prospect of Tombstone standing before news cameras, his head bobbing, smiling amiably, chattering nonsensically as is his way, insisting he feels no shame. All he wants is to become a United States senator, and he kissed a tainted hand to get there. His fellow Democrats may be ready to bar his entrance to the Senate chambers, and politicians... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2158250/posts#comment Sat, 3 Jan 2009 22:21:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2157933/posts Monday is going to be a very special day in America. Illinois Senator Appointee Burris, is planning to show up for work and to be seated on the day the Congress opens for the year. Borrowing a page from the George Wallace playbook, Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to use the capitol police to stop Mr. Burris from integrating the all-white Senate. It is incredible how Governor Blago was able to turn this entire Senatorial selection into a racial Issue, and a giant "F-you" to Democratic Caucus in the Senate. The Congressional Black caucus, which would have had NO comment... WSJ/Fox News/Yidwithlid http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2157933/posts#comment Sat, 3 Jan 2009 03:07:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2157644/posts The gift of Rod Blagojevich keeps on giving to Republicans. After defying his own party and appointing former Attorney General Roland Burris to replace Barack Obama in the US Senate, Blagojevich provided yet another reminder why Democrats in the legislature should have stripped him of the power to make that appointment while they had the chance. Politico notes that Burris tried running for governor on the back of a man railroaded onto Death Row by prosecutorial misconduct so egregious that one of his deputy AGs resigned in protest (via Political Machine): Hot Air http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2157644/posts#comment Fri, 2 Jan 2009 16:21:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2157628/posts Wall Street titan Bernard Madoff proved you can take an outstanding reputation and ruin it overnight. Now Roland Burris has demonstrated that even a mediocre reputation can be instantly destroyed. Burris is the prototypical time-serving career politician who owes his success to being simultaneously ambitious and bland. He has never been one to challenge the status quo, but no one underestimates his self-esteem. The two Burris children, after all, are named Roland and Rolanda. Townhall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2157628/posts#comment Fri, 2 Jan 2009 15:53:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157596/posts Today, as I methodically break New Year's resolutions the way politicians break their promises of reform, readers get their writes. Because I am supposed to be on vacation this week, it's about time you readers did your fair share of the work around here, allowing me to recline on a couch, watch football and gulp down buckets of aspirin. OK, Kass, what are you paying Gov. Rod Blagojevich to give you material for your columns? Or is he the gift that keeps on giving? —Sue S. Dear Sue: As our esteemed governor has famously said, this thing is "bleeping golden."... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2157596/posts#comment Fri, 2 Jan 2009 14:51:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156861/posts Since he was federally charged with trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder, Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been wrongly caricatured as some kind of hapless jester prancing on the edge of madness. Jesters hold rattles with a likeness of their heads on the end of a stick, and they hop off into a corner, prattling to themselves. That's what jesters do. Jesters don't pick up the race card in a nationally televised news conference and slam it into the face of every Democrat in the U.S. Senate, a palm heel strike to the tip of... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156861/posts#comment Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:19:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156568/posts A bottle of flammable liquid was hurled at one of Chicago's oldest synagogues, catching fire but not causing major damage. No one was injured in the incident early Monday at Temple Sholom of Chicago. Chicago police and the Chicago fire department are investigating the arson as a hate crime. No one was in custody Monday. Police officer Daniel O'Brien says the fire burned itself out and never ignited the North Side building. He says investigators are working to get surveillance equipment from the area. Roger Rudich, president of the temple, says the arson was unsettling but not damaging. Haaretz / The Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156568/posts#comment Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:05:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156205/posts <p>WLS just broke in to say Roland Burris, a former Illinois Comptroller, has been named to the Senate by Rod.</p> WLS - 890 AM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156205/posts#comment Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:25:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156378/posts RESIDENTS at certain addresses in the Gaza Strip have been receiving unusual phone calls since the Israeli air assault began on Saturday - a request that they and their families leave their homes as soon as possible for their own safety. THE AUSTRALIAN via JIHAD WATCH.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156378/posts#comment Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:31:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156372/posts Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's decision to appoint former state attorney general Roland Burris to the Senate seat being vacated by President-elect Barack Obama further complicates an already difficult situation for state and national Democrats. Blagojevich has been operating under the cloud of scandal for the past month -- since he was arrested following a series of wiretaps that seemed to show he was seeking to sell Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. Before Christmas, Blagojevich made clear he had no plans to step down and insisted he was innocent of the corruption charges against him. He had not made... Washington (Com) Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156372/posts#comment Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:22:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156241/posts Gov. Rod Blagojevich is expected today to name former Illinois Atty. Gen. Roland Burris to replace President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate. The action comes despite warnings by Democratic Senate leaders that they would not seat anyone appointed by the disgraced governor who faces criminal charges of trying to sell the post, sources familiar with the decision said. Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156241/posts#comment Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:23:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2155153/posts The Illinois Gaming Board's latest decision, to give the state's last unused casino license to Des Plaines, caused one board member to tell an amazing story. A story about a stinking monkey. "A woman brought home a monkey she had purchased at the local pet store," said board member and Rev. Eugene Winkler at last Monday's meeting. "Her husband was outraged. 'Where will the monkey eat?' he asked. 'At the table with us,' his wife replied. 'Where will the monkey sleep?' 'In our bed with us,' said his wife. 'What about the odor?' he said. "'I got used to it,'... Chicago Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2155153/posts#comment Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:38:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2152535/posts President-elect's holiday vacation is set to be interrupted with the release of an internal investigation about his aides' roles in allegations of public corruption. KAILUA, Hawaii -- While on vacation in Hawaii, the Obama family is staying in a $9 million single-story oceanfront home in a laid-back neighborhood over the mountain from downtown Honolulu where the president-elect grew up. The five-bedroom wood frame house sits on almost an acre of land fronting Kailua Beach, a favorite spot for windsurfers, kayakers and dogwalkers. Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2152535/posts#comment Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:32:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2152073/posts Mayor Daley once again Saturday refused to join the chorus of state politicians demanding Gov. Blagojevich's resignation. "He should really look at his family and look at the people of Illinois and be able to make a right decision,” Daley said. “That would be up to him to figure that out.” Blagojevich made a defiant speech Friday, saying he had done nothing wrong and that he would be cleared of federal corruption charges alleging that he attempted to sell President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. senate seat. Blagojevich also said he would stay on the job. While refusing to call for Blagojevich... Chicago Sun-Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2152073/posts#comment Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:01:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2152053/posts CHICAGO – Corruption charges against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich focus on much more than the claim that he tried to sell or trade Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat. That charge is the cream. But the meat and potatoes are buried deep within a 76-page affidavit prosecutors tacked onto the charges, and they have a familiar look. Evidence of misuse of political clout, fixed contracts and illegal campaign fundraising — the basic staples of corruption in Illinois — proved persuasive with the jury at influence peddler Tony Rezko's fraud trial. He was convicted and awaits sentencing. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2152053/posts#comment Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:34:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2151620/posts <p>Impeachment proceedings against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich could take a number of weeks, meaning Barack Obama's Senate seat will stay in limbo.</p> <p>It could be a long time before Illinois again has a second U.S. senator.</p> <p>And since no legal or legislative attempt to strip that right from the governor has succeeded so far, Obama's seat remains in limbo at least through the start of the 111th Congress on Jan. 3.</p> Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2151620/posts#comment Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:38:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2151592/posts CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich says he is not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing and plans to stay on the job. In his first official statement since his arrest on corruption charges last week, Blagojevich (blah-GOY'-Uh-vich) says he will fight until he takes his "last breath." ... The Democratic governor says he intends to "answer every allegation in a court of law." AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2151592/posts#comment Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:28:52 GMT