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Deep Thoughts

ArchPundit November 7, 2008 No Comments

I’ve dared many people to sue me for defamation when they claimed it. No one has taken me up on it, though I keep hoping.  The one person with a really legit case never threatened even (Weller).  Whining that someone told you that you could be sued for passing along clearly false and defamatory claims despite direct evidence pointing out it was false takes a lot of hubris.

As I’ve said, I’ve screwed up a few stories. It happens–hopefully you learn from them. Most importantly, you correct them and own up to your mistakes. It’s called accountability.

Lord of the Flies

ArchPundit November 7, 2008 No Comments

Nice to see Obama heading to DC has turned the entire state political scene into a giant free for all.

Another Issue for the GOP

ArchPundit November 7, 2008 No Comments

They are a white Christian party while white Christians are making up less of the population as a whole.

It doesn’t mean the party as a whole is racist, by any means, it means the agenda is largely one of white Christians.  75 – 80 % of Jewish voters vote Democratic.  Latino voters go Democratic at a 2 to 1 proportion and Asian voters go Democratic at a 60 % rate.  Add in college educated whites that Obama won and you begin to have a problem over time.  That doesn’t mean none of this will change as coalitions are fluid, but if it doesn’t change Republicans will face similar problems nationally that they face in Illinois.

Republican Future in Illinois

ArchPundit November 7, 2008 No Comments

Rich has an question of the day on it

Jake has a particularly thoughtful piece from the other day as well.

I don’t believe in permanent majorities, but I do believe that disconnects between state and national parties can lead to state parties being left out in the wilderness for a long time.  In Illinois there is an essential problem that Republicans have to deal with in that the media voter in Illinois is more liberal than the median voter nationwide, but even more importantly, more liberal than states where the GOP is strong.  That means the Illinois GOP has to find a way to move to the center and yet maintain some sort of tie to the larger party.  That’s not easy though we do see it happening the opposite way in states like Montana for Demcrats.

You have to have a base that’s willing to take more centrist positions for that state than the national party does and while I like and respect Jake, there’s a bigger problem in dealing with movement conservatives in Illinois–they aren’t willing to compromise.

And I see it fairly frequently where people I’m acquaintances with or friends with who are quite conservative on a number of positions, but are willing to compromise are called RINOs or some other term to label them an apostate.  This certainly happens in Democratic circles too, but the impact is far different.  I wasn’t run out of the party for supporting the Iraq War–they just let me come to my senses on my own.

That said, the movement conservatives aren’t interested in that sort of give and take and frankly, the Illinois public isn’t interested in the general movement conservative ideas.  I’d love to see what Jake is proposing happen simply because it would create accountability, but I just don’t see it happening soon.

Daily Dolt: Who Else? rahm emanuel property taxes

ArchPundit November 7, 2008 No Comments

Illinois Review continues with it’s absurd claims about Rahm Emanuel’s property taxes.  What’s especially beautiful is this:

We subsequently had the Cook County Assessor’s Office’s answers verified. And while most of the experts we spoke with said that the assessment system in Chicago doesn’t pass the smell test, they did say that it is “seems possible” that the Assessor’s Office’s answers are accurate.

Seems possible?  Ummm…the answers for the Assessor’s Office would make complete sense to anyone who has spent over 10 hours looking through property records. It’s incredibly standard stuff and someone who thinks it seems possible isn’t an expert.

But it gets better—Progress Illinois gets the actual tax bill:

What does all this get from Illinois Review:

Indeed, the thuggery of the Left and their political masters here in Illinois has been on full display. It is a Chicago-style that will soon be exported to Washington, D.C.

That said, Illinois Review is not going to stop asking questions. Nor will we mimic the Left, whose propaganda machines never allow facts to get in the way of their lies. When our questions are answered and those answers verified, we let our readers know.

Let’s make this clear. Illinois Review put up a story that was factually incorrect.  It was, in fact, Illinois Review that screwed up in this case and is now lashing out at everyone else for pointing that out.  If it was an honest mistake, the simple answer would have easy for them to simply say, “Our bad.” But no.  We have several posts about how it’s so unfair for people to point out that they got a story entirely wrong.

You make a mistake–you own up to it.  It isn’t fun, but it’s what you do.  Illinois Review cannot do that.

Here’s their response:

POSTSCRIPT: We were emailed this morning by the Cook County Assessor’s Office, and cited court cases among other things. We needn’t say more. The previous posts which questioned Mr. Emanuel’s taxes have been removed. As a volunteer blog we are not able to stand alone.

I would love to hear what they would be standing alone for–I mean, the entire story was wrong, what is there to stand up for–defaming a public figure and refusing to correct it despite the evidence?

The Kwame Tsunami Continues

ArchPundit November 6, 2008 No Comments

Over at Rich’s

No, it isn’t a likely scenario, but how many times am I going to be able to call something the Kwame Tsunami?

It’s All My Fault

ArchPundit November 6, 2008 No Comments

That Illinois Review screwed up their Emanuel story:

But, alas, these facts, clarifications, and questions don’t faze the liberal hit-men who prefer to ignore the truth and spin the story to be about those who question rather than those who rule.

Comment of the Day over at Rich’s

ArchPundit November 6, 2008 No Comments

Here

The incomprehensible update gets stupider.

They question whether $13,000 is a reasonable tax rate for a double lot.

In the original post, they note that the neighbors, on single lots (it seems) pay $6k to $7k per year. So, Rahm is paying about double what his single-lot neighbors pay on his double lot house. Something is definitely amiss.

Next time someone over there rants about the fundamentals in education, spit takes are in order.

Jim, How Can We Miss You If You Won’t Go Away

ArchPundit November 6, 2008 No Comments

Spend time with your grandchildren and family.

Tuesday’s loss was just the latest in a costly line of them. Since his first campaign for U.S. Senate in 2002, Oberweis has spent more than $9 million pursuing elected office, including a second Senate race, a gubernatorial campaign and the current bid for Congress. His only victory came in the Republican primary for Congress in February.

And I say this with all good intentions given several people have attested to me that you can be a nice guy–enjoy life–your political instincts suck so enjoy the family and contribute to candidates.

Via Rich

Something’s Wrong with Illinois Review’s Comments

ArchPundit November 6, 2008 No Comments

Maybe someone can provide some technical help over there….