February 2009

So

ArchPundit February 17, 2009 0 Comment

I had allergy testing this morning.

Anything happening?

Let’s Try It Again: Open Comments for IL-5 Cattle Call

ArchPundit February 16, 2009 0 Comment

Some jackass got himself impeached and this feature has been put to the wayside consistently. So, let’s hear from everyone how they see the IL-5 Special Election.  I do reserve the right to moderate delusional Pulido supporters (meaning all Pulido supporters).

Here are our Democratic Candidates:
Sara Feigenholtz
John Fritchey
Charles Wheelan
Victor Forys
Pete Dagher
Jan Donatelli
Frank Annunzio
Carlos Monteagudo
Paul Bryar
Roger Thompson
Tom Geoghegan
Cary Capparelli
Mike Quigley
Patrick O’Connor

On the Other Hand, This Could Be a Problem

ArchPundit February 16, 2009 0 Comment

Burris did attempt the I don’t recall bit later in response to Representative Tracy

REPRESENTATIVE TRACY:  So you don’t recall that there was anybody else besides Lon Monk that you expressed that interest to at that point?

MR. BURRIS:  No, I can’t recall.

While that probably isn’t enough for a conviction, it might well be enough for a prolonged investigation.  Perhaps Roland can just tell us now that he’s not running in 2010.  Because he will lose in the primary and right now, he’s embarrassing the party.

Again, this misses the big picture that Roland Burris misled the people of Illinois and was an active participant in the culture of sleaze with lobbyists being the entree into government.  And recall, his conversation with John Harris was about getting a relative employed by the state.

Finally, Harry Reid has to feel great about rolling over and just admitting Roland without hearings and stuff. I mean, what else could have come out….

Daily Dolt: Roland Burris

ArchPundit February 16, 2009 0 Comment

Especially impressive is how Burris contradicts himself in the affidavit.

In the second affidavit he says he was attending a fundraiser for Blagojevich on June 27, 2008, where he made a donation, and asked Scofield and/or Wyma about the potential position.

Next paragraph, Burris says he rebuffed Rob Blagojevich for fundraising because to do so would be a conflict of interest.

It’s like he didn’t read the paragraphs together.

But let’s review what we now know.  Burris sought out the Senate seat from

1) Lon Monk  Lobbyist

2)  John Wyma  Lobbyist

3)  Doug Scofield  State Contractor

4)  Rob Blagojevich  Chief Fundraiser for Blagojevich

5) Finally, John Harris Chief of Staff

Burris is shocked, he tells you, shocked that there was gambling going on… pay for play going on, but he approached two lobbyists, a state contractor, and a chief fundraiser for Blagojevich as his first contacts to determine if he could be a legitimate candidate.

And it took him one month to set the record straight with the public about all of these contacts suggest it wasn’t only because he wasn’t allowed to answer, but he was actively trying to hide the information from the public.

From a Trib story:

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris said today he didn’t have any inappropriate contact with allies of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich about his desire for Illinois’ Senate seat, and he defended his evolving explanation of what happened as an effort to make sure all the information comes out.

“I’ve always conducted myself with honor and integrity,” Burris said at a combative news conference, where his attorney repeatedly stepped in to try to answer questions as reporters insisted the senator take the microphone.

He was just working the system of governance by lobbyist.  Fantastic

The IL GOP Cannot Even Let Someone Perjure Themselves

ArchPundit February 16, 2009 0 Comment

It’s hard to do, but the Illinois GOP has found another way to look hapless and stupid with calls for Roland Burris to be investigated for perjury.

Asked why he went on to answer a follow up question by Durkin that only detailed contacting Monk, the senator blamed his Republican questioner who “took us off in a different direction” that didn’t allow him to give a complete answer. “Why didn’t he come back to those [others] if he was interested in them?” Burris said of Durkin.

After Burris’ news conference, Durkin said it was “pretty clear what I was asking” at the hearing. “There’s nothing from what I heard in the press conference that changes my mind” in seeking a perjury investigation, he said.

Burris’ attorney said the senator decided to file a new affidavit after reading a copy of the transcript of his testimony at the hearing “to make sure there was nothing left out.”

Burris said on Sunday that the initial affidavit was in response to the panel’s interest in how he obtained the appointment and that the most recently filed affidavit “dealt with contacts I had about the Senate seat. Look at the difference.”

I want to side with Jim Durkin here, but as Rich points out, the record is that Durkin moved on.

Check the transcript. After Burris testified about his meeting with Lon Monk, this is what Rep. Durkin asked…

REPRESENTATIVE DURKIN: Okay. Did you speak to any individuals who — any individuals who were also seeking the appointment of the United States Senate seat, otherwise people we’ve referred to as Senate candidates one through five?

My jaw dropped when Durkin did that because I couldn’t believe he just let go of Burris approaching a lobbyist for consideration as a Senate replacement.

It was sloppy questioning and while Burris clearly was evasive, there isn’t a perjury case for that sequence.

Daily Dolt: Mark Kirk

ArchPundit February 13, 2009 0 Comment

What a tool:

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) apparently isn’t a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. That, or he just thinks House resolutions are stupid. And they’re especially stupid right now, he says.

The House was going on with its usual Super Bowl resolution Thursday when Kirk took the floor to say he’d had enough.

“It’s a fairly serious point that it’s tremendously distracting to try and get everyone to talk about their favorite football team — and useful if you don’t want people to pay attention to what’s going on behind the scenes,” Kirk told Politico.

House resolutions, he added, are “not serious” and “they demean the reputation of the Congress and give us an image of being people who can’t focus on the issues of the day.”

Kirk wasn’t done.

“If we have many more resolutions, I’ll be encouraging other members to do the same thing. So the speaker may think twice before putting completely irrelevelant distractions on the floor other than business at hand, which is to borrow 2 trillion bucks tomorrow.”

The best is the Andre Aggasi resolution

111th Congress:

4 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2105 East Cook Street in Springfield, Illinois, as the `Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.516.IH]

33 . Expressing support for designation of September 2009 as `Gospel Music Heritage Month’ and honoring gospel music for its valuable and longstanding contributions to the culture of the… (Introduced in House)[H.J.RES.12.IH]

110th Congress

4 .  Whereas 20,000,000 Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease; (Introduced in House)[H.RES.439.IH]
5 . Make Our Veterans Smile Act of 2008 (Introduced in House)[H.R.5595.IH]
9 .  Whereas Illinois State University marks its sesquicentennial with a year-long celebration, beginning with Founder’s Day on February 15, 2007; (Introduced in House)[H.RES.57.IH]
10 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the `Lane Evans Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.521.IH]
11 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 Vine Street in New Lenox, Illinois, as the `Jacob M. Lowell Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.6681.IH]
12 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main Street in Princeton, Illinois, as the `Owen Lovejoy Princeton Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.2825.IH]
13 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 127 East Locust Street in Fairbury, Illinois, as the `Dr. Francis Townsend Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.2300.IH]
14 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 11033 South State Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the `Willye B. White Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.2025.IH]
16 .  Expressing support for a National Foster Parents Day. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.179.IH]
17 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 219 East Main Street in West Frankfort, Illinois, as the `Kenneth James Gray Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.6061.IH]
24 .  Honoring and supporting the Hadley School for the Blind. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.875.IH]
27 .  Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a National Pet Week. (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.142.IH]
33 .  Recognizing 2008 as the International Year of the Reef. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.1112.IH]
46 .  Recognizing and honoring Prevent Blindness America for its 100 years of dedication to preventing blindness and preserving eyesight. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.848.IH]
52 .  Whereas in 1946, the George One was a Navy patrol plane involved in Operation Highjump, an expedition in Antarctica led by Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd; (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.301.IH]
58 .  Recognizing the roles and contributions of America’s teachers to building and enhancing our Nation’s civic, cultural, and economic well-being. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.1130.IH]
70 .  Whereas this is the 10th American League Pennant won by the Detroit Tigers; (Introduced in House)[H.RES.488.IH]
80 .  Honoring the Detroit Red Wings on winning the 2008 National Hockey League Stanley Cup Championship. (Agreed to by Senate)[S.RES.593.ATS]

105 . Honoring the service and accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel John M. Shimkus, United States Army Reserve. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.1223.IH]

109th
11 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the `Lane Evans Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.5086.IH]
12 . To redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1927 Sangamon Avenue in Springfield, Illinois, as the `J.M. Dietrich Northeast Annex’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.2630.IH]

14 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 105 North Quincy Street in Clinton, Illinois, as the `Gene Vance Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.4805.IH]

16 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main Street in Princeton, Illinois, as the `Congressman Owen Lovejoy Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.5426.IH]
17 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2600 Oak Street in St. Charles, Illinois, as the `Jacob L. Frazier Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.3767.IH]
18 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2000 McDonough Street in Joliet, Illinois, as the `John F. Whiteside Joliet Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.2113.IH]
19 . Designating Room H-139 of the Capitol as the `Henry J. Hyde Room’. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.1087.IH]
20 . To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 East Washington Street in Morris, Illinois, as the `Joshua A. Terando Princeton Post Office Building’. (Introduced in House)[H.R.5428.IH]

24 . Whereas the Chicago White Sox won 99 games during the regular season and compiled the best record in the American League; (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.281.IH]
39 . Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the death of Glenn Hammond Curtiss and supporting the establishment of Glenn Hammond Curtiss Day to recognize his innovative spirit and legacy. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.374.IH]

55 . Whereas Andre Agassi won 8 Grand Slam singles titles and achieved a total of 60 career singles titles and 1 career doubles title; (Introduced in House)[H.RES.1075.IH]

65 . Whereas Rotary International, founded on February 23, 1905, in Chicago, Illinois, is the world’s first service club and one of the largest nonprofit service organizations; (Introduced in House)[H.RES.142.IH]

117 . Whereas on November 13, 2005, the Los Angeles Galaxy won the 2005 Major League Soccer (MLS) championship by defeating the New England Revolution 1-0 in MLS Cup 2005, in Frisco, Texas; (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)[H.RES.574.EH]

120 . Whereas on November 13, 2005, the Los Angeles Galaxy won the 2005 Major League Soccer (MLS) championship by defeating the New England Revolution 1-0 in MLS Cup 2005, in Frisco, Texas; (Introduced in House)[H.RES.574.IH]

That’s only a small sample

STFU.

Feigenholtz Fundraising Lead Not As Much as It Sounds

ArchPundit February 12, 2009 0 Comment

Feigenholtz’s claim on fundraising in her most recent mailing:

As you well know, last night we hit a major fundraising deadline.  I’m so proud to say that since the beginning of our campaign we have raised over $550,000!  Because of your help, we can communicate our message to the voters in the 5th District.

Her December 31st report was for $324,000.  Meaning since then she has raised about $225,000.

On the other hand, Fritchey has roughly doubled her take since January 5th.  Do the math and they aren’t that far apart.  We don’t quite know what the independent expenditures will do, but Fritchey is certainly in a stronger position with this kind of showing.

One of the Better Interviews

ArchPundit February 4, 2009 0 Comment

Not surprisingly was Letterman.  Here is what I think the best segment was:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=TlJlFT-kzws[/youtube]

Dave pushed on a couple questions and Blagojevich showed himself to be truly delusional.  .

The final segment is when Dave pushes back harder than anyone else, rightly, that Rod has not been deprived of due process rights.  It took a late night host to push him on this:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=tNKb6vK_7Pw[/youtube]

Dave also offers up the best description of the process and why Rod will have a fair shot.

$2 – 5 Billion Deficit

ArchPundit February 4, 2009 0 Comment

Alexi was being too rosy…

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=d8SQ_b8FeWE[/youtube]
Hynes puts the figure as high as $9 billion with steady spending down to $6 billion with federal stimulus.

And yes, it’s a horrible time to raise taxes, but the state cannot function without it.  We’ve amassed nearly $5 billion in debt that we have carried over and carried over and carried over. The bill is due and while we certainly won’t solve the problem this year, starting a multiyear bonding plan combined with continuing to underfund pensions along with significant tax increases are the only way forward. Avoiding it, as we have done for years on end will only result in bigger deficits down the road.

Like, we’re huge in Europe right now. I mean, we’ve got records… uh, a big record just broke in Belgium.

ArchPundit February 3, 2009 0 Comment

Rod, is very big in Israel:

Gov is well known in Israel and people of Israel fascinated with the story which has made headlines.

And yeah, I will do serious stuff, but I’m busy and this just popped up.