Will Blago's sentence deter political corruption?

That is today's Capitol Fax: Question of the Day in light of yesterday's sentencing on federal corruption charges to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. We also found out today that he will not be receiving his state pension as a result of his federal conviction in connection with his time as Governor.

If you want to know my thoughts. This morning when I first noticed the comments there had been 80 and now as I write this post there are 143 so far.

Most of those comments are very negative. They believe Blago's conviction will not change the corrupt culture of this state. Many will say human nature is what it it where people are greedy and want a monetary reward for their service. Well however they get their monetary reward.

We may still wink and nod at the actions of politicians and we may know that something is fishy about what they're doing. It's probably just theater to many of us and it'll get us talking with people who are of like minds.

Still the optimism in me says, yes his conviction will deter some politicians from taking money or anything gift in relation to their duties as public officials. There probably will people who will engage in activities that could easily be construed as criminal, but I also hope that no one will ever again be as brazen as Blagojevich. If nothing else this conviction will convince those who are headed that route will either keep their noses clean if they do serve or stay out of politics altogether.

I'm listening to a lot of people's thoughts on his time as Governor and as it relates to people who didn't get caught engaging in corruption. Some insist Daley is crooked and yet he's not going to jail or otherwise indicted. Some people note the crimes of George Ryan, the corruption scandal that took him down was as a result of deaths because of license for bribes.

Some have commented on what Blago has done for the poor and senior citizens of this state. People might admire Ryan for his moratorium on the death penalty before he finished his one term as Governor. They may have done some good, but their legacies could've been cemented had they been clean enough to avoid prosecution for corruption.

The lesson, if you do right by the people you will be rewarded. If you don't then Blago or Ryan is an example of what can happen if you fail to do the right thing.

Blago has been sentenced...

Progress Illinois:

Former governor Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his conviction on 18 counts of corruption charges, including selling the U.S. Senate seat of President Barack Obama. He has also been fined $20,000.

Well at least it's finally over. Time will tell if our Ousted governor will finally realize what's happened. There are a lot of observers I'm sure who might still wonder that. Will he understand when the bars finally close on him!

Full interview with Lenny McCallister

[VIDEO] Sylvia Snowden interviews Chicago area Conservative Republican/political analyst/author Lenny McCallister as they talk about the state of the Black Community. This video was recorded this past summer. Another example of how Republicans can reach out to inner city communities although I'm also a proponent of choosing carefully your audience.

The higher ed bubble is bursting, so what comes next?

I've said once before here, if my degree has about the same value as a high school diploma then I have a very expensive high school diploma. Something I have to pay back with student loans. Check out this column by the Instapundit:

This is a simple case of inflation: When you artificially pump up the supply of something (whether it's currency or diplomas), the value drops. The reason why a bachelor's degree on its own no longer conveys intelligence and capability is that the government decided that as many people as possible should have bachelor's degrees.

There's something of a pattern here. The government decides to try to increase the middle class by subsidizing things that middle class people have: If middle class people go to college and own homes, then surely if more people go to college and own homes, we'll have more middle class people.

But homeownership and college aren't causes of middle-class status, they're markers for possessing the kinds of traits -- self-discipline, the ability to defer gratification, etc. -- that let you enter, and stay in, the middle class.

Subsidizing the markers doesn't produce the traits; if anything, it undermines them. One might as well try to promote basketball skills by distributing expensive sneakers.

Professional basketball players have expensive sneakers, but -- TV commercials notwithstanding -- it's not the shoes that make them good at dunking.

Where Black students from elite colleges go to work...

I'm going to guess that this article is (via Instapundit) talking about Black students from at least the Ivy League universities, but then I wonder about the ones who go to the big name HBCUs such as Hampton, Spelman, Morehouse, Howards, etc. Anyway what's the story here, you may want to know:

Despite civil rights legislation enacted in the 1960s and ’70s, a lack of federal enforcement of and funding for black employment initiatives kept the parents of today’s college students from making significant strides, Beasley writes – and their children have modeled their career preferences accordingly. There is more occupational diversity among black employees today, but the differences as compared to whites are still significant.

For example, according to the 2000 Census, the top 20 white-collar careers among both black and white employees include elementary and secondary education as well as registered nursing. But break it down further and you’ll find that white people hold proportionately more high-status positions: lawyers, physicians, surgeons, chief executives and financial, general and operations managers. Black employees, in contrast, trend toward “service-oriented, racialized jobs” including counselors, education administrators, preschool and kindergarten teachers and community and social service specialists. Taken together, the differences in employment result in: chief executives being the fifth most common white-collar occupation among whites, but 35th among blacks; lawyers being 10th among whites but 27th among blacks; and physicians being 19th among whites but 31st among blacks.

Thus, Beasley concludes that a persistent lack of black employees within certain fields is the source of “significant economic and status disparities” between black and white populations in America.

My thoughts on Chicago's ward remap...

Were posted Friday morning over at Gaper's Block. Feel free to post your thoughts there. This issue I have covered extensively over at The Sixth Ward. The constituents of Chicago's 6th Ward have been very concerned about this remap.

U.S. unemployment hits lowest point in 2½ years

[VIDEO] Here's an AP report on the unemployment rate, the video above is from Crain's looking at the local implications of this news:

The U.S. unemployment rate fell last month to its lowest level in more than 2½ years. More of the unemployed either found jobs or gave up looking and were no longer counted as unemployed.

The Labor Department said Friday that the unemployment rate dropped sharply to 8.6 percent, down from 9 percent in October. The rate hasn't been that low since March 2009, during the depths of the recession.

About 13.3 million Americans remain unemployed.

Also:

Private employers added a net gain of 140,000 jobs in November. But governments shed 20,000 jobs, mostly at the local and state level. Governments at all levels have shed nearly a half-million jobs in the past year.

More than half the jobs added last month were by retailers, restaurants and bars, a sign that holiday hiring has kicked in. Retailers added 50,000, the sector's biggest gain since April. Restaurants and bars hired 33,000 workers. The health care industry added 17,000.

Even with the recent gains, the economy isn't anywhere close to replacing the jobs lost in the recession. Employers began shedding workers in February 2008 and cut nearly 8.7 million jobs for the next 25 months. Since then, the economy has regained nearly 2.5 million of those jobs.

The presidential election is less than a year away, which means President Barack Obama will almost certainly face voters with the highest unemployment rate of any president since World War II. Still, if the rate continues to decline, Obama stands to benefit.

In talking about the unemployment rate they noted people who have left the work force. Wouldn't they be counted as unemployed unless they retired and have no plans to go back to work?

There are implications to Obama's re-election effort. What will these numbers look like near Election Day 2012?

Black College Student Wins Right To Hang Confederate Flag In Dorm Room!

[VIDEO] Get a load of this. A college student wishes to hand a Confederate Flag in his dorm. Of course there probably would be concerns about any racial intent in displaying this flag. There's just one thing, the student displaying this flag isn't white, but Black.

What Cain's presence in GOP means to black conservatives

 

[VIDEO] Any story about the emergence of Black Republicans or conservatives I often take with only a grain of salt. There is a young man from The Sixth Ward who can't be described as conservative although he's more than free to correct me on this assertion who interested in covering Black conservatives in Chicago through is own production company.

Anyway I found this WGN story from early November. This was way before the many issues that have found Cain's Presidential bid hobbling currently.

Some of what's noted is stuff I could believe. Blacks basically are described as socially conservative. Black folks probably could relate somewhat to the evangelical base of the Republican Party. The issues may include abortion or even gay marriage.

Other issues probably aren't that important to different segments of the Black community. Economic development is one issue that should be important but there isn't enough talk of the entrepreneurs or small business owners. That's not to say there aren't Black small business owners or entrepreneurs, but if there is a discussion of economic development in Black communities, that doesn't appear to dominate. What may dominate is tax money and perhaps hassling corporations to black their business in Black communities.

Another thing said in this story that I agree with. A group of Black conservatives were interviewed in this piece and one of them said the issue was of messaging. He explained that the issue isn't entirely the message, but of the messenger. That aspect I think is dead on. Could Herman Cain be that messenger? If not him then who else?

All the same I've said it before and I will say it again. History may well be an important aspect of attracting Blacks to the GOP. They could mention Abraham Lincoln, Republican historic support for Civil Rights, or even famous Blacks who were Republicans.

I've often stated there must be more. Republicans have to offer Black something and in saying that I don't mean "pork". It's safe to say Democrats had a hold on the Black community because they offered something. Perhaps it was support for Civil Rights or even programs to help Black people during the New Deal or the Great Depression.

There is some answers to this. Any potential Republican Black or white or whatever could talk a lot about education and offer their ideas on this subject. While today there are reports that even charter school struggle in Chicago it's OK to talk about such an issue or to talk school vouchers. Black folks for the most part wants to ensure that their children are successfully education.

Another answer certainly is economic development. The answer can't be redistributing wealth, but certainly making it easier for Black to use their talents and prosper. At that I don't mean being entertainers or athletes. We all have a talent for something, and that talent could be used to make money. Some are good at sales, some are good at producing.

See there Republicans reading this blog got some free advice right there. All they need are some messengers. :P

Debating the value of a college education

[VIDEO] This was aired on CBS' Early Show this morning. One of the guests Sam Taratino who started Grooveshark and on-demand music discovery service had himself dropped out of college and take the entrepreneurial route. Not sure if this debate answered any questions.

College is different things to different people. I have a college degree, but while I made some good friends during my time in college it's safe to say that I didn't make the most of it. Meaning that I could've networked better.

At the same time we should recognize that it isn't for everybody. Everyone expects different things from this experience. For the most part, it's expected that a person would major in something that would translate into a job. But college is about education not career training right?

I can go to my old high school (GO FALCONS) and see the emphasis on sending their students to college. I hope they make sure that these young people ask themselves what they expect to get out of college. That's a very important question itself!

The public's business is the public's business...

Lisa Madigan, Illinois' Attorney General, issued an opinion on whether or not information from a private cell phone or PC should be disclosed as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request:

An opinion issued by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office on Nov. 15 changes that. The opinion stemmed from the city of Champaign’s denial of a reporter’s request for documents pertaining to public business, even if those documents were in private cell phone, Twitter or email accounts.

The city partially denied the request by saying the documents were not in its possession.
That explanation violated the intent of the Freedom of Information Act, the attorney general’s office said.

“Whether information is a ‘public record’ is not determined by where, how, or on what device that record was created; rather, the question is whether that record was prepared by or used by one or more members of a public body in conducting the affairs of government,” wrote Michael Luke, counsel to Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

In other words, the public’s business is the public’s business, no matter which phone, computer or other communication device is used to conduct it.

If you ask me, this sounds like trouble. It reeks of over reach because where does privacy end. Perhaps this needs to force public officials to keep official business on official channels and keep private business off of official channels.

What do you think of this development? They were already talking about this over at the Capitol Fax where I got wind of this!

Infidelity?

I haven't followed very closely the sexual harassment allegations against GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain. I barely paid attention to the time his wife was interviewed by Greta Van Susterin on FOX News to talk about these allegations against her husband. In fact there was about to be a post about the response of certain people on Twitter who had attended school in the AUC who certainly had something to say about Mrs. Cain and her alma mater!

In any case, while the allegations keep coming and apparently has gone so far as not only sexual harassment but of an affair. That news just came out Monday and it seems Cain might have expected it enough to say so in an interview on CNN that same day.

To be sure, while Herman Cain also attended Morehouse it's not a reason for me to vote for him. He is obviously very well spoken and very successful in his lifetime. In fact he spoke to the Men of Morehouse at a Crown Forum, the year he ran for a US Senate seat in his home state of Georgia, he spoke a lot about his success. Perhaps he will consider doing so again and talk to Morehouse Republicans.

At the same time whether or not these allegations of sexual harassment or of an affair wouldn't dissuade me from voting for him either. That only means that I was never leaning towards him as a potential President of the United States and it's mainly because he hasn't had a very successful political career so far. As stated earlier he ran for US Senate from Georgia and lost in the Republican primary to current US Senator Johnny Isakson.

In my case, Cain was never going to be my man. While this latest allegation is certainly very damning it appears to be a "hatchet" job. I'm not so sure Cain is headed to the presidency, but someone is putting this information out there for a reason!

Electronic Village: What Has Barack Obama Done for Black Folks?

There is a list of accomplishments provided here of President Obama. What's more important is the symbolism of the Presidents ascension as a man of color at least to a lot of people who aren't of the predominant group of people in this nation.

I'm sure many who read this blog would challenge this list of accomplishments Obama has during his tenure in office. I'm sure many would take aim as the "Affordable Care Act" being one of those things that many who oppose Obama would point a finger at easily. Still the conclusion:

The challenges faced by President Obama have been unique and powerful -- two traditional wars, war on terrorism, BP oil spill, natural disasters, near-depression level economic, high unemployment and a do-nothing Congress. Yet, he continues to fight for us. At the end of the day I suspect that the Black community is going to realize that Barack Obama is a better choice for a second term as our president than any of the folks currently running for the GOP nomination.

I would hit Obama on his handling of the economy. I don't agree with any bailouts and the stimulus program doesn't appear to have produced any desired results as stimulating the economy and providing jobs. That's the main thing with me jobs. We have a long way to go in undoing the damage of the financial crisis that brought Obama into the White House in 2009.

Want a challenge? Run for GOP ward boss

I found this posting from Crain's Greg Hinz via Newsalert last night. Then I made sure I wrote a post about this at my neighborhood blog, The Sixth Ward. Every ward in Chicago during a presidential primary elects a party committeeman to represent Democrats, Republicans and even the Green Party since in Illinois they're considered a major party though not as major as the Ds & Rs. All the same Hinz makes a plea for Republicans to run for these positions.

BTW, a committeeman here can be referred to as a "ward boss" regardless of your party:

Doug Ibendahl, a former attorney for the state GOP, has been waging a bit of a one-man campaign to drum up interest in the job of Republican ward committeeman as part of an effort to spark some grassroots activity. The local party chiefs will be elected in the March primary, and snagging a spot is surprisingly easy.

Mr. Ibendahl notes that getting on the ballot requires the signatures of no more than 30 registered voters in most city wards. And actually getting elected can take almost as few.

In 2008, for instance, 3rd Ward GOP committeeman winner Bobbie Johnson had just 65 votes to his opponent's 57. Linda Rockett won 40-26 in the 9th Ward and Margaree Jackson just 47 in the 28th Ward.

Now, all of those admittedly are predominantly African-American wards, in which Republicans are as scarce as elephants. But hey, fame costs. So move, already.

Besides, it really doesn't take a ton of votes to win almost anywhere. Up on the lakefront 49th Ward, for instance, winner Robert Shearer garnered just 274 votes.

Then there was the wild 25th Ward contest, pitting Dennis DuBois against Hector Escarzaga Jr. and Billy Ying Fook Moy. Who says there's no diversity in the Republican Party. (Mr. DuBois won, with 162.)

So here's your chance, folks, to be a big shot, have your own personal soap box and get on Sarah Palin's Christmas card list. You might even help rebuild a second party in distinctly one-party Chicago.

Then over at The Sixth Ward I threw this point out there:

Though I would expect that well no one should aspire to be on Mrs. Palin's Christmas card list. Now if she were to pay a visit to Chatham for example or even Englewood now hopefully that should give any aspiring Republican activist some pull! Either way you still have time to circulate petitions just pay a visit to the Chicago Board of Elections for more information!

It's OK to get the attention of prominent Republicans or Democrats but from either side Black neighborhoods should get attention. Not saying either should provide a one-size-fits-all solution to all problems because there's no such thing, however, Democrats seem to be the only one doing the talking on depressed urban areas. So yeah if you're running for ward committeeman in our city I hope that you can bring in some pull and not just be seen just to be seen.

BTW, since Republicans are very much minorities in Chicago it doesn't take too many petition signatures to run for this volunteer position. Sometimes even less votes, especially if you're unopposed!

Happy Thanksgiving...

May you all have a happy and safe one!

Teen charged in video recorded attack at downtown 'L' station

[VIDEO] This morning I had tweeted this particular story from the Tribune. The good thing is that the young man turned himself in. It appears that they still haven't found the victim who is believed to be homeless because just yesterday an alert was issued to all city police districts in the search for the victim.

Chicago police said that Scotty Strahan, 18, was the person who punched an unidentified man at the Chicago Avenue Red Line stop in April as his friends watched and laughed. Police said he turned himself in.

Police suspected that the victim, a slow-moving older-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair, may have been homeless. The video showed an assailant tapping the victim on the shoulder from behind and punching him in the face after he turned.

The video, apparently taken by one of the assailant's friends, was recently posted on worldstarhiphop.com, prompting the search for the attacker.

Strahan turned himself in to police at Belmont Area headquarters and was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, police said this morning.

Strahan, of the 8600 block of South Normal Avenue, was sentenced to probation earlier this year after he was cited for causing a traffic hazard, according to court records.

I should note that FOX Chicago had found him anyway. It may have been the first time Chicago news viewers were apprised of the "point em out, knock em out" game. Unbelievable, it's not fun and games anymore now is it?

Science and Tech Education for Students of Color

[VIDEO] via Electronic Village. I can relate by the time I took a computer class in high school (Go FALCONS!) in the late 90s the computers and programs we used were behind the times. In fact at home I used a PC that had Windows 95, the PCs in high school were still using like Windows 3.0 and a dot-matrix printer. Here is a quote from Electronic Village:

The point was made that there are very few African Americans being funded for technology start-ups in Silicon Valley. It is obvious that creating a vanguard of technology CEOs begins with the education that we give to our young people.

The emphasis is made by the author at Electronic Village. ;)

In any event, I joined an entrepreneurship club back in my junior year of high school. The expectation was members come up with a business plan and it was something that I never did, however, one idea was to utilize a computer. Perhaps use a computer for the purposes of publishing. Of course during most of that period there wasn't an up to date PC at home. If I had such a business plan that utilized a PC where could it have gone today!

Can a young black person (or other "minority") out of high school or even college come up with a technology idea that will change the world?

3 Reasons We Shouldn't Bail Out Student Loan Borrowers

[VIDEO] Well this video should dash my hopes of forgive student loan debt. Don't want student loan debt better plan how you'll finance your education. Also choose an inexpensive school in addition to choosing a major that will insure you will find a job in that field which will have significant pay.

Via Newsalert!

Downtown Workers in NYC Take on 'Occupy' Protesters

[VIDEO] I saw this on Neil Cavuto's show this afternoon. The protesters who are protesting the Occupy Wall Street protests are business owners. They consider themselves part of the taxpaying 53%.

I wonder if they've ever heard of the group who are "liberating Wall Street"?

Capitol Fax: No, we’re not the worst

Ever since my state passed the tax hike on individual and corporate incomes Rich Miller had published several posts that attempts to keep the income tax hike in perspective.

Look, 21st overall ain’t great, but it gives the lie to the “We’re all gonna die!” rhetoric from those who claim Illinois is the worst state ever. And 2nd in new plant openings is a plus, even though our high population means our per million rate is also around the middle of the pack. Tax competitiveness is still not horrible, even after the January tax hike.

Then responds to a list of items that could make Illinois a better state to do business:

We can make it much eaiser to do business here, no question. But busting unions, killing off the income tax and fighting OSHA and EPA ain’t gonna happen. If that’s the climate you really want, then China or Mexico would probably be your best bets anyway.

The chart above is from siteselection.com

Also some of the items mentioned in Miller's post, well none of it is too unreasonable. He's right it's not likely to happen here. It could be attributed to a lack of appetite to tackle those issues especially politically. Weirder things have happened but that much major changes will take some time!

Curbed Chicago: New-Look Funeral Homes Keep Death at Arm's Length

This funeral home in Skokie operated by Chicago Jewish Funerals is said to be attempting to break the mold of funeral homes that usually seem to resemble mausoleums, however, there are more windows and with brighter colors here. At Curbed Chicago it was suggested that this place could be used as a place for celebrations but I doubt that'll happen.

Since this place is a mortuary and a place to remember the dead it wouldn't be a place to celebrate say a birthday party. Death will always be a very depressing thing and celebrations shouldn't take place at a funeral home no matter how not depressing it looks!

Where some can only see a desert...

[VIDEO] ...others can actually see an oasis. Bill Whittle is back to talk about the success of Western Civilization. Whittle starts with comparing the Israelis with their Arab neighbors. The Israelis have largely developed their nation while according to Whittle most of the surrounding Arab nations are still mostly desert.

It brings to mind this documentary produced by Protest Warrior. The clip I'm linking is from a much larger documentary entitled - Entering Zion. It underscores the point of how the Israeli nation was developed although they also explore life in various settlements in occupied Arab lands outside of Israel's borders.

Want to learn more about them read their Manifesto and here's a great quote:

The Muslim world could decide tomorrow to stop the war against the West. The Arabs have six million square miles of land with an ocean of oil beneath it. They have their two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina. They could give their Palestinian brothers a state tomorrow (in addition to Jordan, which is 70% Palestinian), give every one of them a bar of gold and beach front property in the Sinai, or vast tracts of land in the Fertile Crescent that would dwarf the West Bank and Gaza. Between the Arabs' oil wealth and Israel's scientific skill, the entire Middle East could be a thriving hub of culture, commerce, and life, not death. My God, how the desert would bloom.

The Israelis see an oasis, but the Arabs see a desert. One day the Israelis and Arabs will see a desert.

Of course in light of what Whittle discusses in the video above this could apply in any situation. My interest currently is blogging about the neighborhood where I live. Where many can only see ghetto, I can very much forsee a vibrant, thriving, and safe neighborhood. This could describe many in not only Chicago, but around the nation.

All it takes are the five qualities noted by Whittle: imagination, ambition, skill, work ethic, and perseverance. To persevere is a very important quality especially if you face very discouraging odds!

J. Edgar Hoover: A law unto himself

[VIDEO] This week a biopic about this historic figure was released in theaters. J. Edgar starts Leonardo DiCaprio (yeah the guy from Titanic & Inception) plays J. Edgar Hoover as a young man all the way to his old age. The film even touched upon the rumors of Hoover's homosexuality although in reality those rumors have been disputed.

On today's edition of CBS Sunday Morning they do a portrait of the long time director of the FBI. Even touches upon the speculation of his own personal life. As I've stated it has been disputed but we see one authored interviewed who believes that Hoover may have been homosexual.

All the same people still wonder about him. The secrets he kept and the secrets he used. There is a reason that the term FBI files are in the culture today!

Capitol Fax: Amy Jacobson’s changing story

Rich Miller takes a break from our state's veto session to look at the Republican Presidential race. Amy Jacobson was reported by several sources that she's stated different facts about an encounter between Herman Cain and his accuser Sharon Bialek. I can believe it was a confrontation of sorts, but Miller recalls that she lost her job at a local station because she paid a visit to Craig Stebic who was a person of interest in a missing persons case involving his wife!

Today is 11/11/11

Or Veteran's Day which is November 11, 2011. The last binary date for the rest of this century! And it was preceded by 11/10/11 or November 10, 2011.

BTW, many thanks to our nation's veterans! There sacrifices will be forever appreciated. May you inspire many others to either do what you have done in serving our nation, but also inspire many others to know how blessed they are to live here. Thank you!

Thinking about an iPod...

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

While I decide as to purchase a new cell phone, I'm taking a look at iPods. The current series of iPods have different uses. One can be used for music, another can be used as a watch, and yet another can be used like the iPad's little cousin. The question is which one to get since I can't have them all.

I'm not at all interested in the shuffle model but the nano, classic and touch are the ones that would be useful to me.

The nano could be used as a watch in addition to using it to listen to music on the go. It seems very practical to use if your out and about jogging and you need some music. But most of them can be used for the purposes of fitness with the right apps.

The classic would be perfect for the DJ. It's made for playing music and music only although it can be used to watch videos as well. But for my purposes it will be a device only to listen to music and nothing else.

The touch is the most versatile. If I even get an iPhone it would be used for much of the same purpose I could use the touch. To watch movies on the go in addition to listening to music and of course to surf the web. I could also take photos with it and videos and then have a ready-made device to display videos and photos. And at that I find a case where whatever is displayed on the iPhone and touch can be viewed in a stand that resembles a classic TV set.

Either way the Christmas season is upon us and I'm looking for a good deal on any of these iPod models!

Benicio Del Toro in the next Star Trek flick...

I haven't been following the developments of the next film other than knowing that they're behind schedule in filming the movie. Benicio is to play a villain but as of yet even he doesn't know who the villain is. We'll see eventually, but for right now here's the news about his possible casting from TrekMovie.com

On state defense forces...

This page that I found over at Instapundit shows that the states still have essentially their own militias that can't be mobilized federally like the National Guards usually are. They mentioned those states that have their own militias, and even noted one that only exists on paper.

Illinois even has one that only exists on paper apparently. It was reauthorized by our Ousted governor Rod Blagojevich believe it or not. The Illinois Naval Militia existed starting from 1893 and then disbanded by 1988, however, reauthorized by then gov. Blagojevich in 2006 by executive order.

A case of doing way too much...

The Chicago City Council had their meeting today was too sleepy to even watch online although I did hear it cut out prematurely at one point. Suppose I've have to catch them next time as they still have to debate remapping the City Council Wards. Something I'm following intently over at The Sixth Ward.

Here a Tribune article about the attempt to ban plastic bags!

Large stores in Chicago would be banned from putting shoppers' products in plastic bags under a proposal introduced today.

Ald. Proco "Joe" Moreno, 1st, said the plastic bag ban would put Chicago near the forefront of American cities in what he characterized as a progressive move to improve the environment.

"Every day, our streets, our sidewalks, our parks are filled every day with these bags," Moreno said, holding up a plastic shopping bag at a City Hall press conference. "They are horrible for our environment."Similar prohibitions on plastic bags have been discussed in the City Council in the past. In 2008, aldermen initially proposed outlawing them, before dropping that idea in the face of opposition from Mayor Richard Daley. Instead, the council passed an ordinance requiring large chain stores to provide recycling for plastic bags, but Moreno said that hasn't worked because the bags are difficult to recycle. 

I think there are much bigger priorities in our fair city. Getting the schools in good shape, bringing jobs back into the city, and finally getting that city budget in good shape as was one purpose for today's city council meeting.

Looks like Magic Johnson is finally coming to Chicago...

Well a bit of an exaggeration since he does already have some interests in this city, but he will have a foothold in Hyde Park if this plan comes to fruition:

An investment fund led by former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson has agreed to invest in Harper Court, a $100-million real estate development in Hyde Park anchored by a Hyatt Place hotel.

Loa Angeles-based Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds has made an equity investment in the project's initial phase, while New York-based Citibank has provided a $65-million construction loan, says David Cocagne, president and CEO of Vermilion Development, the project's developer.

Site preparation is under way, and Vermilion plans an official groundbreaking in November, he says. Mr. Cocagne expects to complete the first phase of the development at Lake Park Avenue and 53rd Street in spring 2013.

The University of Chicago has agreed to lease all of Harper Court's office space, about 150,000 square feet, while health club LA Fitness has leased 31,000 square feet of the project's 75,000 square feet of retail space, Mr. Cocagne says. A joint venture including Beachwood, Ohio-based Smart Hotels LLC has bought the rights to build the 130-room hotel.

Obtaining a construction loan remains a challenge in the current market, where risk-averse lenders remain wary of big, complicated mixed-use developments like Harper Court.

“It's a difficult environment,” Mr. Cocagne says. “What was key to our success was having the level of leasing in place and also the quality of the tenants.”

Ward Room: Children of Haymarket

Click pic for the Ward Room blog post

Well yeah, so long as no one throws any bombs that kill police and civilians alike. Though unlike back then, we may find out who did it. Because we never found out who through the bomb at Haymarket Square in 1886 unfortunately:

As the 40 or so marchers walked south on Michigan Avenue. I fell in line behind, just to see what this was all about. Occupy has been called a revival of the 1960s protest movement. But as I listened to them chant anti-corporate, anti-banking slogans, I heard voices from an even earlier era: the 1880s and the 1890s, when anarchists and unionists demonstrated against the hoards of wealth held by robber barons such as Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller.

The Gilded Age, as Mark Twain called it, was the last time so few Americans held so much wealth. One of its most famous battles, the Haymarket Square affair, took place in Chicago. During a strike for an eight-hour day, a bomb went off, resulting in the deaths of eight policemen and four workers. The labor unrest was nationwide, and it was violent. During an 1892 steel strike in Pittsburgh, unionists and company-hired Pinkertons shot it out with Civil War weapons, and an anarchist attempted to assassinate U.S. Steel’s Henry Clay Frick. Nine years later, in Buffalo, an anarchist succeeded in assassinating President McKinley.

Two of the Progressive Era’s most famous protest novels were also set in Chicago: Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, about the horrible working conditions at the Stockyards, and Frank Norris’s The Pit: A Story of Chicago, about wheat speculation at the Board of Trade, which 110 years later is again the focus of protests against economic inequality. Eventually, the industrialist were forced to accept reforms that brought about a fairer distribution of wealth: a federal income tax, direct election of U.S. Senators, child labor laws, the right to unionize, and the break-up of monopolies.

Because the Occupy movement was rousted from Grant Park, they’ve been compared to the demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. But the two groups have very different concerns: in 1968, young people who had grown up in a time of unprecedented economic equality were protesting against social inequality and militarism. In 2011, young people who grew up in a time of unprecedented social equality are protesting against economic inequality. These aren’t the grandchildren of Grant Park. They’re the great-great-great grandchildren of Haymarket Square.

Yeah I've been slow to talk about this movement. Although you may have seen some pictures over at my Twitter account within the past month. I caught up to a OWS march on Monroe Street and made sure I get the front of the march too!

Well let's hope they continue to protest peacefully! That's as important as getting your message across!

Illinois legislators served with an eviction notice...

[VIDEO] Another function of the Occupy Wall Street movement. OWS came to Springfield to evict Illinois lawmakers from the Illinois State Capitol. State political blogger Rich Miller refers to action as "not exactly democratic". Miller adds:

A handful of protesters has no right to overturn elections nor deny people from exercising their 1st Amendment right to petition the government, no matter how much one might disagree with their employers. I fully support the occupy folks’ rights to protest. I flat out oppose any attempt to take away constitutional rights from others. When we overturn elections we don’t like or allow the government to decide who can and who cannot lobby, we’re gonna be in really big trouble.

Now this action is also refered to by him as symbolic. At the same time he refers to a press release that noted that this "symbolic eviction notice" effectively ends the tenure of "Lobbyists and their servants in elected office".

That aspect would be over top,  I know. I just don't see how undemocratic it is. It's a symbolic action and they could do a lot more to insure that the will of the people in an election is overturned. All they are doing is marching and serving a piece of paper that means very little. That's not to say it couldn't get worse because we've heard a lot of stories about that since this movement emerged.

BTW, if you watch the video above a person wearing an AFSCME shirt was walking up the state capitol steps to serve the eviction notice. It almost makes me wonder who is really behind this movement!

Afterburner: How to Steal Power

[VIDEO] Bill Whittle talks about how the left in this country takes liberties with the concepts of "general welfare" and the "commerce clause". Those terms are in fact used in the constitution, but Whittle is arguing for a more literalist interpretation of the constitution and not the more "living document" approach that is taken by the left. The Constitution -  our Supreme Law of the Land -  is often interpreted to justify certain policies!

Chicago News Report: Gay-bashing State Street preacher exposed!

Chicago News Report | Chicago Crime | News: Samuel Chambers: Gay-bashing State Street preacher exposed!

He's been preaching along State Street for years and man I can't believe he has been called out in the fashion that he has been over at the Chicago News Report. I'm not sure how to take this. Needless to say however. But this anecdote...WOW!

So the future is here...

According to RIMarkable we can use a BlackBerry device or more specifically turn the SIM card into a MasterCard. Yes now cell phones can be used for purchases instead of having to pull out an actual card:

Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today announced the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900 and BlackBerry® Curve™ 9360 smartphones are the first SIM-based NFC smartphones to be certified by MasterCard Worldwide asPayPass-approved devices.

The certification was granted on the basis of the BlackBerry® smartphones meeting the functionality, interoperability and security requirements of MasterCard. With this certification, any MasterCard PayPass-issuing bank globally will be able to deploy MasterCard PayPass-enabled accounts to the SIM card of these smartphones.

The ecosystem to allow customers to take advantage of the certified BlackBerry smartphones for NFC payments is already growing. France Telecom – Orange believes that mobile NFC has the potential to enable a new revolution in mobile by further connecting people’s mobile digital world with the physical world around them. France Telecom – Orange is the first operator worldwide to have commercial NFC launches in two countries, UK and France, with trials in several European markets.

It has been talked about in Chicago at least, that the Chicago Transit Authority wants to find a way to allow transit riders to pay their fares with a cellphone. This could be a prelude although it may utilize the same technology as using the phone as a debit/credit card.

BTW, I just learned AT&T will finally have the new BlackBerry Bold 9900 in the near future. I do also like the touchscreen BlackBerry Torch but have really been feeling the new BlackBerry Bold. Then again in a change of pace I want to get my hands on an iPhone 4S. There is a little time for me to decide since I'm looking for the best deal possible.

Student loans add to angst at Occupy Wall Street

Student loans add to angst at Occupy Wall Street

Count me as one of those people with a significant student loan debt. You know I have been tempted to sign petitions that'll just wipe out student loan debt.

Is that practical? That's very doubtful because lenders want their money back! A weird catch 22 they want their money back, but students who either drop out or graduate without finding a job to pay this debt back will remain in debt and could default. It makes me wish I had done better planning financing my education.

With the nation's student loan debt approaching $1 trillion, the issue has also generated debate in Washington. The Obama administration announced plans Tuesday to expand a government program to help 1.2 million borrowers reduce their payments and consolidate their student debt.

Republicans, including some presidential hopefuls, have demanded in recent days that government student aid programs be reduced or eliminated.

About two-thirds of the students who were in four-year colleges in 2009 used loans to pay tuition, accruing an average debt of $24,000, said Lauren Asher, president of the nonprofit Institute for College Access & Success. One in 10 owed $40,000 or more.

And even at a time when new tools have been developed to help poor students negotiate federal payments, an increasing percentage of them are defaulting. Last year, 320,000 people who recently left college defaulted on a federal payment.

"Compared to a generation ago, a lot more people have student loans and are carrying debt that is much greater," said Asher, adding that besieged state governments are passing on costs to students at public schools by driving up tuition.

"Most people look at the sticker prices at Harvard and Yale," Asher said. "But most students go to public schools, and tuitions there are also rising rapidly."

Republicans in Congress are seeking to lower the $5,000 cap on federal Pell Grants, which aid low- and middle-income students and do not require repayment.

"Look, I worked three jobs to pay off my student loans after college," House Budget Committee Chairman Paul D. Ryan said last week at a town hall meeting in his native Wisconsin. "I didn't get grants, I got loans, and we need to have a system of viable student loans to be able to do this."

Presidential candidate Ron Paul also reminded voters last weekend that he had worked his way through college and medical school, and promised that if he was in the White House he would eliminate federal student loans altogether.

But President Obama has supported loan programs and tried to improve them. He also has reminded voters of his personal experience: Both he and his wife, Michelle, came out of college and law school with $60,000 in student loan debt. "We were paying a bigger amount every month than our mortgage," he said last summer. "And we did that for eight, 10 years. So I know how burdensome this can be."

Via Newsalert!

GAFFNEY: Who lost the world? - Washington Times

GAFFNEY: Who lost the world? - Washington Times

I'm not going to excerpt this one. This will have to speak for itself.

I've somewhat followed the Libyan situation. Gaddafi murdered by his people, and then I hear that the new regime may institute Sharia law not much different than in either Iran or Saudi Arabia.

After years of being under repressive and dictatorial rule you would hope that a nation would want democracy. I fear the Libyan people aren't going to get much different than what they rebelled against.

Of course even more disturbing is a Mexico in disarray! Narcotrafficers and their Hezbollah allies. I need to read more about that issue as well.

Dangerous world and Frank Gaffney points at the administration in the White House RIGHT NOW!!!

Via Instapundit!

Artur Davis should have supported Alabama's voter ID laws

This was an issue in Georgia while I was in school at Morehouse. There were complaints such as how can those without automobiles be able to get an ID so that they can vote. I also here that ID people could come to homes. There were plenty of arguments back and forth in favor or against such a law. Also it seems opposition would stem from the fact that such a law was not only economic, but that such a law would also affect people of a certain ethnicity.

Artur Davis was a Congressman from Alabama and he ran for Governor last year in the Democratic primary and lost. He's currently retired from politics but offers his thoughts on voter IDs. In fact he wants us to know that as a politician he wasn't in favor of voter ID laws!

The truth is that the most aggressive contemporary voter suppression in the African American community, at least in Alabama, is the wholesale manufacture of ballots, at the polls and absentee, in parts of the Black Belt.

Voting the names of the dead, and the nonexistent, and the too-mentally-impaired to function, cancels out the votes of citizens who are exercising their rights -- that's suppression by any light. If you doubt it exists, I don't; I've heard the peddlers of these ballots brag about it, I've been asked to provide the funds for it, and I am confident it has changed at least a few close local election results.

There is no question that a voter ID law, in order to pass legal muster and in order to be just, must have certain characteristics. It should contain exceptions for the elderly or disabled who may not drive, and as a consequence lack the most conventional ID, a driver's license. There should also be a process for non-drivers to obtain a photo ID, and the process has to be cost-free, for the simple reason that even a nominal financial impediment to voting looks and feels too much like a poll tax.

It is my understanding that the Alabama statute contains each of these exceptions and a few others, including a provision for on-site polling officials to waive the requirement if they attest that they know the voter.

The fact that a law that is unlikely to impede a single good faith voter -- and that only gives voting the same elements of security as writing a check at the store, or obtaining a library card -- is controversial does say much about the raw feelings in our current politics. The ugliest, hardest forms of disfranchisement were practiced in our lifetimes, and its still conventional rhetoric in black political circles to say those times are on the way back. Witness a last-minute automated call to black voters in the 2010 general election by state Sen. Hank Sanders, an ingenious lawyer and a skillful legislator who knew better, but who also knew the attack would resonate.

Politics trump the need to find ways to ensure clean elections apparently. Shenanigans may always ensue when it comes to politics!

Via Instapundit!

Hey I know of her...

[VIDEO] Patricia McAllister ran against Mayor Daley back in 2003 along with some other no-names that year and lost spectacularly. She was on cable access years ago with essentially her own "informercial" if you will. Her main issues were affordable housing and then turned around and claimed that "they wanted to kick all Black folks out of Chicago". And it appears she's still talking crazy!

Can Obama hold on to African American voters in 2012?

So it appears the White House is seeking to solidify support from within the Black Community. Will this translate into getting more Blacks to the polls?

For several months, radio host Tom Joyner has pleaded with his 8 million listeners to get in line behind the first black president.

“Stick together, black people,” says Joyner, whose R&B morning show reaches one in four African American adults.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, an ally of President Obama who has a daily radio show and hosts a nightly cable television program, recently told the president’s black critics, “I’m not telling you to shut up. I’m telling you: Don’t make some of us have to speak up.”

Even as Obama and his campaign play down the suggestion that support among African Americans is flagging, a cadre of powerful allies is snapping back at critics in the black community and making explicit appeals for racial loyalty.

“Let’s not even deal with the facts right now. Let’s deal with just our blackness and pride — and loyalty,” Joyner wrote on his BlackAmericaWeb.com blog. “We have the chance to re-elect the first African-American president, and that’s what we ought to be doing. And I’m not afraid or ashamed to say that as black people, we should do it because he’s a black man.”

That message is pointed at racial unity much more than it was in 2008, when just the prospect of electing the nation’s first black president brought out record numbers of African American voters. This time, high-profile Obama supporters are tailoring their appeal in hopes of reigniting enthusiasm among blacks, a critical part of the president’s base that has been disproportionately hurt by the lagging economy and high unemployment rates.

Aren't we supposed to be in post-racial America where race doesn't matter? I'm not going to dispute that Obama is getting flack from some quarters because he's Black. It's probably true though my optimism would like to believe that this is a small number. Although it's just as easily that they never liked him in the first black and it's because he's either Black or they insist he's a Muslim.

I'm going to jump ahead to the end. Why the push by many prominent Blacks for Obama and the calls for racial solidarity:

Warren Ballentine, a black talk radio host based in North Carolina who has interviewed Obama about a dozen times, speaks about the president’s accessibility. “It’s not like he is not hearing black America,” he said.

Ballentine specifically reminds his listeners of the racial undertones he saw in the 2008 campaign.

“It’s almost like we’ve forgotten what this man had to go through to get into the office. We need to remember the hatred and vitriol that came out.”

Sharpton said he learned an important lesson about supporting black politicians in the early 1990s, when David Dinkins, who was New York’s first black mayor, was running for reelection. Sharpton criticized Dinkins’s “deliberative” style and thought his policies were not progressive enough. Dinkins was hurt by the diminished enthusiasm and turnout among black voters.

“We beat up on him. He went down and we ended up with eight years of Rudy Giuliani,” said Sharpton, who has been among Obama’s most aggressive supporters. “I said I’ll never make that mistake again.”

Like I said, I can't dispute that the President hadn't gone through anything during the course of his historic run. I don't recall anything during the 2008 elections that might have been race related. Although to be sure he was beat up good by Hillary's camp and not because of his race necessarily. Some saw his race as a negative but many saw his lack of executive experience as an issue. I most certainly did!

Also the call for racial solidarity, well it almost strikes me as a call for supporting mediocre politicians who don't deserve a second chance. Has Obama exactly proven that Black voters should give him a second chance? Let's hope that many won't just vote for him because he's Black.

This quote was a breath of fresh air in this article:

Jack Jackson, who works for the city’s water treatment plant, said he is tired of the appeals to black identity politics.

“Leave the race game alone,” said Jackson, 53, who said he supports Obama. “Let’s not keep holding on to that. It’s been done. . . . We should put our faith in God, not Obama.”

Yes, Obama should! I know he wants to remain in office another four years. It's OK to shore up support amongst a very significant constituency, but at what point do you begin to focus on the rest of the nation. Only time will tell if Obama's current strategy is a winning one!

Via Newsalert!

WTF???: Opposite-sex couple in civil union assail NU's health insurance rules

The sub-title to the Tribune article is "Heterosexuals get fewer options than same-sex partners". I'm with Rich Miller on this...WTF??? Although he doesn't even say it as colorfully!

Soon after Northwestern University professor Robert Fourer entered into a civil union, he did what many others in newly recognized relationships have done: He applied to add his partner to his health insurance.

But Northwestern denied his request because his partner is a woman.

The university's top-tier PPO insurance plan is available to same-sex partners in a civil union, but not to heterosexual couples in the same type of legal relationship. Male-female partners are eligible only for the university's HMO plan — unless they marry, in which case they can pick either plan.

Fourer and DePaul University professor Sandra Maria Benedet, an Evanston couple in their early 60s, decided to enter into a civil union shortly after it became legal in part because they support equal rights for same-sex couples. So they were shocked to learn that when it comes to Northwestern's health insurance, same-sex pairs get a better deal.

"The (civil union) law makes no distinction, but somehow they are making a distinction," said Fourer, an engineering professor at Northwestern for 33 years. "I am not happy with it. It is somewhat intrusive. Why should they be bugging me about the gender of my partner?"

At a time of year when employees are signing up for next year's health insurance coverage, Illinois' recent civil union law is raising new, and sometimes unexpected, complications about eligibility.

Among other developments, some employers that previously offered benefits for same-sex domestic partners now require proof of a civil union to get insurance.

There is a wrinkle in this:

The law in this area is complicated. Employers who offer fully insured health coverage have to provide benefits to civil union partners to the same extent they provide them to married spouses, but employers with self-insured plans can choose who gets the benefits. Northwestern has both — the fully insured HMO and the self-funded PPO.

"After further discussion regarding insurance eligibility for civil union partners, it was determined that in a heterosexual relationship, the partner is eligible only for the fully insured plans," the benefits specialist wrote in an email to Fourer, which he provided to the Tribune.

Fourer, however, was enrolled in the university's PPO plan. Therefore, "Sandra is unable to join your plan at this time," the employee wrote, adding that Fourer could switch to the HMO plan, and add her, effective Jan. 1.

The issues that come up with radical changes. Illinois has civil unions and that's not without its issues. I've accepted civil unions but I do support treating all couples the same as - according to this article - the University of Chicago is doing.

After that is what the push for gay marriage/civil unions are about, treating couples the same?

I'm glad it's being said

I've always thought the RINO thing made little sense. So it's refreshing to see the Chicago GOP blog say what I've always thought:

It is cheap to bust on people within the GOP using terms like “RINO.”  I usually find it is used by people who have no intention of actually facing off against Democrats.   After all, it is oh-so-safe to pillage and rage solely within the GOP, and not the outside world – few real chances are taken, and there is no concrete possibility of recrimination.  People would style themselves as romantic revolutionaries within the GOP, but until the risk is taken of acting against Democrats it is a tempest in a teapot.  Many more are now facing down the Machine, and I encourage them strongly.  But is simply losing politics to reject those in the GOP who do not measure up to your  perfect level of conservatism, or disagree with you on one litmus test or another, when they agree with you on 80% or more of what you say.  If you feel that Republican leaders have not acted properly or actively enough, and then oppose them, it is fine and fair.  But the level of demonization going on in this Party is getting way out of hand.

The people of Illinois lose in our ideological infighting on the right, though the personal interests of a few wanna-be political chieftains might be served.  We have a responsibility to stop the madness in Springfield.  In the end, we have to come together, or all our efforts in 2012 will be, in Shakespeare’s phrase “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”  Then is it over the cliff for Illinois while the Democratic leadership retires to their fat pensions.   

Can the GOP afford to be pure in Chicago or even Illinois? I doubt it because in the last decade Republicans have been taking a beating. Find the best candidate where it's likely that person will be elected. Hopefully one that will put forward a Republican agenda whatever that is.

Besides here in this state, the Democrats do it. For the most part in state legislative seats the Democrats will pick those candidates to run in areas and hopefully have them campaign in a fashion where they will likely be elected. Yeah I've been reading the Capitol Fax blog.

Anyway, if you ran a Democrat in a more conservative area of this state could you even consider running as a progressive? Wouldn't be advisable no more than you ran as a conservative in a more liberal area and started talking about more social issues?

Obama has lost the owner of the "Obamalac"

Photo courtesy of Capitol Fax

During Obama's successful run for the Presidency in 2008 Rich Miller of the Capitol Fax made several posts about his dad's support for our then US Senator. He supported Obama so much that he placed decals on his car "Obama '08" and then drove it to Iowa. What a difference three years will make. From Miller's Sun-Times column:

The situation may be worse than they realize. My father went door-to-door for Obama in his U.S. Senate race. Obama used to call him “Brother Miller.”

Dad loved him.

When Obama decided to run for president, Dad attached giant, custom-made “Obama ’08” stickers to both sides of his vintage 1963 Cadillac convertible. He christened it the “Obamallac” and drove all over Iowa to advertise his guy before the 2008 caucuses.

I called Dad on Tuesday night and he told me he was watching the Republican presidential debate. I asked him why and he said he’s so bitterly disappointed in Obama that he is looking around for someone else to support.

If Obama has lost the Obamallac owner, he’s in gigantic trouble, and so is the rest of the Democratic Party.

The gist of the whole column was about how this year Democratic support is soft in this state. Of course this is true around the nation. While many have hoped for parallels between 1996 to today there are just no signs that it's happening at all. There doesn't appear to be a backlash against the Republican US House of Representatives.

The difference between 1996 and 2012 is that President Bill Clinton was very willing to co-opt the Republicans agenda for the most part. It remains to be seen if President Obama's current turn to the left will help his chances, but according to Miller's column the polling doesn't suggest as much.

Of course Miller's beat is not the national political scene but Illinois' political scene. If Obama is in trouble around the nation, then that couldn't possible bode well for his home state Democrats!

Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration

[VIDEO] American history - or more specifically the American Revolution and the writing of the Declaration of Independence - in the form of a 3 minute music video. The tune, melody, rythm is quite catchy. I almost felt as if I was transported to the late 80s to early 90s even if I'm watching actors & singers representing our founding fathers who just so happen to not be singing period music. :P

VIDEO: Economic Freedom in America Today EconFree

[VIDEO: PART 1 & PART 2] The video above is actually episode two of a series from EconomicFreedom.org. This is the theme of that video above.

For years the United States has been a world leader in economic freedom. But runaway government spending and burdensome regulations have caused a decline in economic freedom in the United States. If our economic freedom continues to fall, how will it affect our quality of life?

I watched last night's GOP debate on Bloomberg. One thing they attacked Obama on is the healthcare overhaul. That mandate will cost businesses even more money according to those candidate who seek to replace Obama in the White House.

Another charge we might be hearing more of is that President Obama has little clue about how the American economy thrives and operates. I hope there will be more videos.

I only posted links to both Parts 1 & 2, in the brackets but you can watch Part 2 above! Part 1 looks at economic freedom and quality of life.

Hat-tip Instapundit!

Andrew Jackson: the Tea Party president?

Andrew Jackson was our 7th President serving from 1829 to 1837. This American Spectator article makes a great case that President Jackson - a Democrat - would be very relatable to today's Tea Party movement.

I'm excerpting the conclusion on Jackson's foreign policy if he just so happened to drop in on 21st Century America and then the final paragaph of this article:

On foreign policy, Jackson would argue that America must play a significant role in the world. We are a great nation and must stand tall. But he would warn against getting involved in unnecessary wars unrelated to vital American interests. And he would ferociously attack anyone who suggested, for example, that opposition to America's Libyan adventure amounted to isolationism. He would insist on reasonable and accurate terms of debate.

Corporate welfare in all its forms; high taxes that thwart economic activity and entrepreneurialism; persistent deficit spending; the bloated federal government; intrusions from Washington great and small into the lives of citizens; petty corruption in legislative activity; unnecessary and dangerous military ventures -- all would come under Jackson's damning political assault. Then he would take his program to the American people, let the chips fall, and rise or fall on his principles. This approach worked with the Bank of the U.S. back in the 1830s. Perhaps it will reemerge as the country's dominant political force in the 2010s.

Give this article a full read! Jackson I would think of as one of our more unique Presidents. Who could fill his shoes today? Because I already know he's not going to magically drop from the 19th century into the 21st century!

Via Newsalert!

We're still talking about Steve Jobs

[VIDEO] This segment aired on the most recent edition of Sunday Morning:

New York Times technology columnist [David Pogue] comments on how when Steve Jobs died, the country lost not one but four of its greatest minds.

I'm giving credit to Steve Jobs for getting ahead of a revolution having some failures which culminated in him getting forced out of the company he had created. Then returning to his company and eventually becoming very influential. Watching this vdieo there had to have been something about him!

BTW, been to two Chicago-area Apple Stores since he had passed away. Memorials outside of the store to both of them. And for whatever reason at one store they left money for him. What was up with that?

If only I can be as successful as him!

Instavision: A Libertarian Moment in the GOP?

[VIDEO] Since Rep. Ron Paul ran in the 2008 Presidential Race on the Republican side I've often pondered this subject. In that party the Conservatives had to find the right standard bearer and that turned out to be Ronald Reagan. There is still a need in the GOP to find that conservative standard bearer.

Still, I do wonder if now is the time for a Reaganesque figure for Libertarianism. If you believe that this nation needs to head in a direction that allows for less government and more liberty I would say now is the time. It does seem however that such movements takes years before eventually they do gain some success or even the Presidency or even solid control of either of our two major parties.

All the same Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit talks to former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson on this very subject. Do you think this nation is ready for mainstream Libertarianism, however that should be defined?