Illinois Republican Party Current News:
- Thu, 2 Sep 2010 15:21:40 -0500: IL GOP Chairman Statement on Corrections Director Resignation
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady released the following statement about the resignation of Illinois Department of Corrections Director Michael Randle:
“Pat Quinn has no trouble firing his campaign PR firm, dumps his Inspector General on the same day of an ethics report on his chief of staff, but when it comes to his Prisons Chief responsible for letting criminals back out on the streets early, he sees no need to take action. Instead, he waits for Michael Randle to leave. Another example of failed leadership.” - Thu, 2 Sep 2010 02:36:55 -0500: Where Do Giannoulias and Reid Disagree?
"Giannoulias said Tuesday he won't support ideas he disagrees with 'whether it's President Obama's, whether it's Harry Reid's, whether it's Dick Durbin's.'"- Associated Press, 8/31/10
“The Illinois Democrat's campaign told the Huffington Post that the objective is to provide a philosophical counterweight to the sway that conservative Democratic members often have over legislation.” – Huffington Post, 8/13/10
Q: Do Giannoulias and Reid Disagree on the Stimulus?
A: Nope, Giannoulias rubber-stamped it.
Q: Do Giannoulias and Reid Disagree on the Health Care Bill?
A: Nope, Giannoulias rubber-stamped it.
Q: Do Giannoulias and Reid Disagree on New Financial Regulations?
A. Nope, Giannoulias rubber-stamped it.
Q: Do Giannoulias and Reid Disagree on Cap and Trade?
A: Nope, Giannoulias rubber-stamped it
Q: Do Giannoulias and Reid Disagree on the Teacher Union Bailout?
A: Nope, Giannoulias rubber-stamped it.
Q: Do Giannoulias and Reid Disagree on Adding to the Debt?
A: Nope, Giannoulias rubber-stamped it.
Who do you believe: “Rubber-Stamp Giannoulias” who pledged to be a counterweight to fiscally conservative Democrats in the Senate or “Chicago Media Giannoulias” who claims to be an independent? - Thu, 2 Sep 2010 02:32:51 -0500: IL GOP Chairman to Mike Madigan: 'Are You Kidding Me?'
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today blasted Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan for the Speaker’s revisionist history. Madigan told supporters in Decatur Tuesday that the Democrats have produced a long list of achievements over the past year.
“Are you kidding me?” asked Chairman Brady in response to Madigan’s version of events. “Mike Madigan has co-chaired our $13 billion dollar deficit along with Pat Quinn, presided over the second-worst credit rating in the country and continues to pass legislation that benefits himself or his family members.”
Madigan boasted of pension reforms and a new capital construction plan, among other things. “It’s the first capital bill he’s been able to muster in nine years,” Chairman Brady observed. “And, everyone knows the pension reforms are far from adequate.”
Chairman Brady also criticized Madigan for passing ethics reform legislation that ended up increasing Madigan’s power by lifting restrictions on legislative leaders for donations they make to fellow legislators. “He can spin a great story, but the voters can tell the difference between Madigan’s myth and the stark reality of Illinois’ dismal situation.”
Chairman Brady argued the only way to truly fix the state’s budget and economic woes is to break the Democratic stranglehold on Springfield. “They’ve been in power long enough,” Chairman Brady argued. “It’s long past time for a change.” - Wed, 1 Sep 2010 14:17:35 -0500: GOP playing name game with Madigan
By John Kass - Chicago Tribune Columnist
It sounds unbelievable, but Illinois Republicans are actually proposing to change the name of Illinois to something a tad more realistic.
They want to call it "Madiganville," in honor of House Speaker Michael Madigan, the Chicago Democratic boss who runs the state legislature.
"Why don't we just change the name of our state from Illinois to 'Madiganville'?" suggested state Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady the other day. "It's obvious we're all here to serve the Madigans."
Brady was reacting to a Sun-Times report that Madigan and his daughter Lisa, the Illinois attorney general, helped push legislation regulating high-interest rates charged in "payday loans."
The legislation, signed by Madigan's compliant Gov. Jell-O, also known as Pat Quinn, reportedly benefited lobbyist Jordan Matyas, who recently married Madigan's other daughter, Tiffany. Isn't it nice to see Illinois government working for the Madigan family?
Hence Madiganville.
"Mike uses his position to benefit his law practice, he gets his daughter elected to statewide office and now he helps out his new son-in-law," Brady opined. "Can the argument for change this November be any stronger? Time for a clean break."
Perhaps. Republicans historically deserve their share of blame, but the fact is that Madigan has been a boss so long, with so much power, that he bears much of the responsibility for the state's $13 billion budget deficit.
For all his power, Madigan flies under the media radar. Many voters probably don't fully realize that if they vote for a Democrat as their state representative, they're voting to keep Madigan in total control of the House.
That said, lamely calling the state Madiganville would be a horrendous mistake.
Madiganville sounds like a sleepy little hamlet with a few drunks strumming their six strings on front-porch swings, anticipating a cold, snowy winter on our state roads. Any day now, a guy with a stuffed parrot on his head might even write a song.
Wastin' away again in Madiganville
Waitin' for the state highways to run out of salt
Some people claim that there's just Blago to blame
But I know ... it's our own damn fault.
Anybody who took French in eighth grade — before the state blew so much money on juicy political pensions that we have trouble paying for French teachers — would know that the "ville" in "Madiganville" is a horrific misnomer.
What Republicans can't seem to get through their heads is that Illinois isn't a little village. And before we surpassed California in the race to bankruptcy, we were a big state with plenty of money and businesses to provide needed jobs.
But now, with our state's economy an arid wasteland, and with our politicians most likely planning to hit us with a big tax increase immediately after the November elections when we can't do anything about it, what we need is a true name for Illinois:
Madiganistan.
Yes, Madiganistan. It reflects power and ruthlessness, which is how Madigan runs the legislature.
It also reflects a land of hardscrabble existence, which is what we're facing if we continue to spend billions we don't have, while borrowing billions more that we have no hope of repaying. Businesses don't hold news conferences to announce they're leaving and taking the jobs with them. They just go. And six months later they're opening up in Indiana or Iowa.
While Madiganistan is my favorite, there are other possible names. In Latin, the state would be called "Orbis Terrarum Madigan" (or Planet Madigan).
Madigascar doesn't work. But what about Madigania?
Madigania has the advantage of incorporating the sound "gain," and the Madigans have "gained" power and treasure through politics.
Madigania sounds so 18th century. You can picture all the Madigans in uniforms with gold braid, the speaker with massive tasseled epaulets, peeling apples and setting the slices before him — as is his way for lunch — with his House Democrats quaking in their boots.
Unfortunately, I never really studied foreign languages. Those two years of French at Clark Junior High in Oak Lawn were actually spent studying our French teacher, the exquisite Mademoiselle LaBash. So I can't remember a dang thing.
And my German is worse. All I can remember how to say is "Our cousin Julie is an only child" and "strawberries with whipped cream."
So we called around to various Chicago foreign consulates, reached out to my assistant Wings' Italian-speaking friend Fredo (aka Steve) and even interviewed a Polish-speaking soccer dad.
The question: How would you refer to "The Land of Madigan" in the native tongue? The possibilities are endless.
In German, you could say, "Das Land der Madigan," or perhaps more playfully refer to "Volksmadigan." Our Spanish-speaking friends might wish to call our sovereign land "Tierra Soberana de Madigan."
In French, why not "Etat Appartenant a Madigan" (state belonging to the Madigans)?
Italian? "La Nazione Madiganese." Or the Italians might call us "Terra dei Conflitti Interesse" (Land of Conflicts of Interest), in honor of Madigan making a fortune as a tax reduction lawyer for Republican-leaning real estate investors while the people get taxed and taxed and start thinking of tasty ways to serve themselves dog food when they retire.
The Swedes would call us "Stormakt Madigan" (Powerful Region of Madigan), while the noble Poles might say "Ksiestwo Madigana," translating to a land ruled by a Duke Madigan.
But I still think that Madiganistan is the best.
So sing it with me, my fellow Chumbolones:
Wastin' away again in Madiganistan,
Waitin' for the state highways to run out of salt,
Some people say that there's just Blago to blame
But I know … it's our own damn fault. - Wed, 1 Sep 2010 05:35:12 -0500: Did Giannoulias Dodge the Draft in Greece?
From BigGovernment.com
From 1998 to 1999, Alexi Giannoulias played professional basketball in Panionios B.C. Greece. That part we already knew.
Alexi Panionios B.C.
But one thing we still don’t know is how an American with Greek citizenship was able to live in Greece without being drafted into the Greek military.
Under Greek law, all citizens must serve in the military once they turn 18. Much like in Israel, Greek citizens will perform a period of military service after high school.
Alexi Giannoulias was a college graduate when he came to Greece – an age meeting the requirement for military service. So how did he get around the requirement?
With many Americans holding dual Greek citizenship travelling to Greece, U.S. Embassy, Athens details the Greek government’s requirements for military service on its website.
According to the Embassy, Giannoulias could either have been considered a Permanent Resident of Abroad or a Draft Evader. If he was the former:
Permanent Residents of Abroad (MONIMOI KATOIKOI EXOTERIKOU):
Persons who were born or established residence abroad before January 1st of the year of their 10th birthday. Permanent residents of abroad may remain in Greece, without incurring any military obligations for a cumulative period of SIX MONTHS within the same calendar year, only if they are registered as “permanent residents of abroad” (monimos katoikos exoterikou) with the appropriate recruiting office, and are in possession of a certificate confirming their status (pistopoiitiko monimou katoikou exoterikou) issued by the Greek consulate having jurisdiction over their foreign residence. The above certificate is valid for six months from the date of issuance.
If he was a draft evader:
Special arrangements for persons classified as DRAFT EVADERS
Detailed information concerning settlement of military obligations for draft evaders can be obtained from the nearest Greek Diplomatic or Consular authority or the appropriate recruiting authority in Greece.
As of 7/04 the Greek law for military obligations provides that draft evaders may travel and stay in Greece for a maximum of thirty days (in total or partially) within the same calendar year.
The American Embassy in Athens strongly suggests that persons classified as draft evaders, should first check with the nearest Greek Consulate or appropriate recruiting authority in Greece before traveling to Greece.
And before 7/04, that 30 day allowance didn’t even exist.
Alexi Giannoulias has concentrated much of his campaign on attacking Mark Kirk’s military record. Ironically, Mark Kirk actually volunteered to serve in the military. If Alexi Giannoulias found a way to evade his own obligations, that should be national news.
LaSalle County Republican Party News:
- Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:56:09 -0500: LaSalle County Republicans Picnic
July 25, 2010
1 PM to 4 PM
Pitstick Pavilion
3401 N State Route 23
Ottawa, IL 61350-9651
(815) 433-3571
$15.00 a person.
$25.00 for two.
$50.00 for four.
Sponsorships available
$250 Bronze, 5 tickets
$500 Silver, 7 tickets
$750 Gold, 10 tickets.
All sponsors will be recognized. - Wed, 3 Mar 2010 22:31:41 -0600: Susan Thornton elected new LaSalle County GOP Chair
