Can Illinois Get A Governor That Isn't A Crook?

And Blago gets taken into Federal custody today. Apparently this has something to do with Blagojevich looking to pad his pockets and gets some favors from the person who is to replace President Obama as Senator. It also appears to that he has been recorded on the phone doing this.

IL 14th, Now In The Democrat Column

This is not good news for Republicans in November.

(Chicago Tribune) In a stunning upset Saturday that could be a sign of trouble for Republicans this fall, a little-known Democratic physicist won the special election for a far west suburban congressional seat long held by former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Nothing To See With The Climate Here

Other than 60+ degree temperatures in January, in Chicago. And never mind the tornado too.

Cubs For Sale

With the sale of The Tribune Co., the Chicago Cubs are up for sale. FINALLY!!!! Maybe now they can actually be a winner. For years, the Cubs were part of a business. And like all businesses, profit is always important. And the Cubs were a profit maker. Unfortunately, that doesn't equal success on the field.

The early rumors on new owners include Mark Cuban, Jerry Colangelo, Don Levin. Even Bill Murray's name has come up. This should be interesting. Now, if we could just get the McCaskey's to sell majority control of the Bears.

Chicago Cops Gone Wild

Yesterday Anthony Abbate, the Chicago cop who attacked a female bartender, made his first appearance in front of a court. Unfortunately, "on-duty" cops shielded the media from Mr. Abbate by blocking off parking lots and streets with their squads, and ticketing the vehicles driven by the media. This was all done on the order of their Capt., who has since been demoted by Police Supt. Phil Cline.

There is reportedly another video of 6 off-duty cops attacking 4 men at a Downtown bar. And when the on-duty cops showed up, the 6 off-duty cops told them they had it handled and to leave.

Cline also said six officers allegedly involved in the second beating have been stripped of their police powers -- which Cline said should have happened weeks ago.

When the department was alerted to the beating -- which occurred at the Jefferson Tap & Grille -- investigators with the department's Office of Professional Standards viewed the video within five days. The video reportedly shows an off-duty sergeant waving away on-duty officers who responded to 911 calls. Prosecutors saw the video by the end of the month, Cline said.

I am sure Mayor Daley has got to love this happening as he is trying to push Chicago for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

Detroit And Chicago: Just As Bad As Iraq?

This according to Republican Congressman Tm Walberg of Michigan.

(AP/WaPo) During an interview Monday with WILS-AM, Rep. Tim Walberg said the returning troops he has talked with "indicate to me that 80 to 85 percent, in a conservative fashion, of the country is reasonably under control, at least as well as Detroit or Chicago or any of our other big cities. That's an encouraging sign."

Remarked program host Jack Ebling: "I've never heard Iraq compared to Detroit before."

Walberg responded: "Well, in fact, in many places it's as safe and cared for as Detroit or Harvey, Ill., or some other places that have trouble with armed violence that takes place on occasion."

I had to drive through Harvey on St. Patty's day, and while it's no Mayberry, I'm willing to bet that if our troops were offered a choice between service in Iraq or Chicago, Harvey or Detroit, it would be a easy choice.

We Need More Autism Help

Not knowing a lot about autism myself, I was quite surprised to read that shock treatment was an accepted form of "treatment". Apparently people use cattle prods to shock autistic people to keep them from hurting themselves. Well a Cook County circuit judge has ruled that Bradley Bernstein's parents can no longer use the cattle prod on their son. This overturned a 1986 decision to allow the parents to use shock "therapy".

(Chicago Tribune - free reg req) At an oral argument last month, Trinity Services' attorney, Matthew Henderson of Chicago, said that although "no one doubts the sincerity of Mrs. Bernstein," the use of electric shocks on people with disabilities is outdated and morally wrong.

"Things that were done previously--five, 10, 20 years ago--are simply not acceptable anymore," Henderson said. "There were several staff members who just flat out refused to do it."

After all, bloodletting and leeches were once acceptable treatments too.

Chicago's Teflon Family

The Don, I mean Mayor Daley, plowed right through corruption and scandal charges to win another election with 70% of the vote. It's like a well oiled, some might say greased, machine. With this win, Mayor Daley could surpass his father as the longest running Mayor of Chicago.

Nuclear Plants Scale Down Security Responsibilities

Not really what you want to hear when you live in the most nuclear state in the US. In fact, Illinois has almost as much nuclear capacity by itself as the United Kingdom.

(BW) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Monday that nuclear power plant operators should not be expected to stop terrorists from crashing an airliner into a reactor, saying that responsibility lies elsewhere.

Plant operators instead should focus on limiting radioactive releases and public exposure from any such airborne attack, the agency said in a revised defense plan for America's nuclear plants.

They better have Patriot Missiles set up at these plants to shoot down any approaching airliners, because a 9/11 like attack with a 9/11 like response would be real problem otherwise.

Smoking Ban To Be Put On Hold In Chicago Suburbs

Bar owners in three south suburbs say they estimate they lost 50% of their normal business during the Bears playoff game due to smoking bans. It is such an issue that the three suburbs are holding emergency meetings to discuss a temporary ban on the ban until mid March.

(Da Trib) Oak Forest Mayor JoAnn Kelly said the reason for seeking the temporary lifting of the bans was to afford the three communities more time to review their no-smoking ordinances and the impact they're having on businesses.

She acknowledged, however, that the decision to consider lifting the ban now was in response to bar and restaurant owners' complaints of losing business during the NFL playoffs. Since the playoffs began two weeks ago, many patrons who smoke have moved to pubs and eateries in communities sometimes minutes away that have yet to adopt no smoking laws.

"It [allowing smoking during the playoffs] is a big point for our businesses, especially with the Bears involvement, " Kelly said.

"Go Bears," the mayor added.

If this doesn't tell you how crazy people around here are for the Bears, I don't know what will. Law or Bears? Da Bears!

My Neighbor Breaks World Record

When I saw his name in the paper, I thought it could be him. And when I read that he worked for the DEA, I knew it was him. George Hood has broke a world record. What record you ask?

(Daily Herald) The 49-year-old Aurora resident pedaled his way into history Saturday when he tied the Guinness World Record for spin cycling for 82 hours on a stationary bike. It’s his second brush with world record fame. In 1986, he broke the world record by jumping rope for about 13 hours.

“We have broken the record and we’re moving forward,” he said, still pedaling toward his goal of 85 hours. “We’re on top of the world.”

He started pedaling at 4 a.m. Wednesday at the Five Seasons Sports Club in Burr Ridge. At around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Hood churned out a total of more than 1,000 miles and burned off more than 25,000 calories — dropping 7 or 8 pounds. Averaging 12.5 miles per hour, he could have rode a bicycle from Burr Ridge to Portland, Maine.

That is a lot of pedaling. Congratulations to George for breaking the record.

I-80 Shutdown In Illinois

A 70 mile stretch of I-80 has been shut down since this morning trapping motorists for 12+ hours. The Illinois State Police has asked the Red Cross, Dept of Natural Resources and the National Guard for help. In some cases using snowmobiles to get food, water and gasoline to stranded motorists.

That Was Some Heavy Snow

What a snowstorm! That was as intense of a snowstorm as I have seen in a few years, and it was heavy snow. The kind that has a layer of slush and ice on the bottom. Makes for fun shoveling. I would also like to thank the nice Waste Management employee, in his Dodge pickup, that pulled me and my Grand Cherokee out of the ditch after a semi essentially drove me off the road. He had to step in when the another nice gentleman couldn't budge me with his Explorer. Thank goodness for Mopar and tow hooks.

George Ryan Avoids Jail, For Now

Former Governor George Ryan won a ruling allowing him to stay a free man while he appeals his guilt. Some think this possibly shows that there are serious flaws in the verdict. The flaw I see is that he only received 6 years.

Calling Abe Frohman

Only Abe could solve this family dispute. In all seriousness, this is a shame, since the store is 5 minutes from me. Now I would have to drive into the city. 45-60 min, one way for Polish sausage(pronounced saw-siege if talking about Italian), it's good, but not that good.

CNN Calls IL 06 For Roskam

Peter Roskam will be the next Congressman from the IL 06. I guess we can't get everything we want, but I was really hoping Tammy Duckworth would win. I don't know what her future plans are, but I am sure she will be successful at what ever she does.

Illinois Going The Way Of the Incumbent

It looks like it is the status quo here in Illinois. The one race where there is a chance to take a seat is the Duckworth/Roskum race. Currently with 14% of the vote, Roskum is up 52-48.

Nothing Like Voting In Chicago

And the legend continues.

Maybe It Is Obama In 2008

I wasn't sure if he would be able to do it, but from the coverage and press that he has been receiving over the last few months, it's hard not to think that he couldn't challenge Hillary and McCain. The one big thing he has that no one else running has is the Clinton/Bush baggage.

He also, because of his short time in Congress, has no real negative votes for parties to muddy up. He wasn't around for the vote on Iraq so he can say what he feels and no one can say you didn't vote for or against and you don't support blah blah blah. It would be a fresh breath of air, that I think is needed in D.C. It really is time for our government to work together, and a Clinton or McCain in the White House just isn't going to do it.

That Was Absolutely Amazing

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I think the quote is something like, " I've seen enough to know I've seen too much!", or maybe it's"Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat". Whatever the phrase or quote you pick, it fits. Tonight the Chicago Bears won a game they had no business winning. It was the type of victory that can only continue the comparisons to the magical 1985 season. The football gods were looking down on the Chicago Bears tonight.