Monthly archives: January, 2009

Black is Back for the GOP – No, Wait, It Never Was

I have to admit I laughed out loud when I read the newsflash from the Chicago Tribune that the Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele their first black national party chairman.  The move is  “a response in part to election defeats that have left the party’s base more white and Southern at a time when the country is growing more diverse,” according to Peter Wallsten, reporting for the Trib.

Strom Thurmond must be turning over in his grave.  And Jesse Helms?  Well, he just died again.

Oy.  Yoy.  And Double Yoy!

So, the GOP is the new black?

I wonder what the Cook County Republican Party will do to match this move?

Let’s meet them.  They changed leadership — and their Web sitesince we last stopped by to visit.  Their Web site was previously Republican Red.

It is now Obama Blue.

No kidding.

Here’s their leadership:

The Chairman is Lee Roupas.  He’s white.
Eloise Gerson – City of Chicago Chairman.  She’s white too.
Eric Wallace – Co-Chairman. Yup.  White.
Doug Glick – Co-Chairman.  White.
Judy Diekelman – Treasurer.  She’s white.
Linda LaFianza– Secretary.  White.
June O’Donoghue – North Suburban District Vice Chairman.  June is white.
Michael J. Gadzinski – Central Suburban District Vice Chairman.  Gadzinski?  Don’t ask.
Sig Vaznelis – South Suburban District Vice Chairman. Sig is not from the South Side.  He’s a bit white.
Frank Capuzi – City of Chicago District Vice Chairman.  White.
Tony Castrogiovanni – Vice Chairman At Large.  Tony is white.
John Curry – Vice Chairman At Large.  He’s bright white, and his Web site loads very slowly.
Joe Hedrick – Vice Chairman At Large.  Yup.  White.

Let’s see what happens to this list over the next few weeks.

Will the GOP be successful in their ruse to fool Americans into thinking that Michael Steele is the new Barack Obama?  Americans tend to be smarter than that.  We didn’t buy it that Sarah Palin was the new Hillary.

Thanks for the laugh, GOP.  You made my day.


Bring On Governor Pat Quinn

Prepare for Governor Pat Quinn, at last.  Quinn is the only member of the executive branch who has made any sense the last few years.

One of his first acts as governor will be the removal of Rod Blagojevich’s name from signs over state tollways.

From the Chicago Tribune:

“The signs will go down, and we’ll probably have a ceremony to do it,” Quinn told the Tribune. “I might even ask some toll payers to help us out.”

Speaking in his Chicago office with the Senate impeachment trial blaring in the background, Quinn said he would end a period of “imperial governorship” that began under Republican Gov. George Ryan and was continued by Democrat Blagojevich.

As he prepared to head to Springfield for a Senate vote that could oust Blagojevich this week, Quinn sounded more than ever like the governor-in-waiting. He has already tapped several potential top aides to join him in a new administration.

I’ll look forward to that ceremony.

Personally, I’m looking forward to Pat Quinn in the Executive Mansion in Springfield.  Pat Quinn has been dependable the past several years, and I think he really wants to govern.

Welcome Governor Quinn.


Curtain Call on Rod Blagojevich’s Flying Circus

I am so tired of everything Blagojevich right now.  Governor Blago’s Flying Circus will near its final act Thursday when the soon-to-be former governor addresses the deliver a 90-minute plea to garner support from lawmakers so he can stay in office.

Unbelievable.

I have no doubt that Blago will continue to court the media.  He needs that book deal.  He needs that movie.

Personally?  I’d cast George Wendt as Blagojevich.  Poetic justice, you know.

Blago’s newest best friend is Geraldo Rivera.  Rivera somehow believes Blago is getting a raw deal.  Watch him here on Fake News.

The last hurrah will be Thursday.  Finally.

From the Sun-Times:

The governor has boycotted the first three days of his impeachment trial, arguing in a national media barnstorming blitz that the rules are stacked against him.

Under those rules, the governor will get 90 minutes to make his case that he should not be convicted of the pending impeachment article against him. House prosecutor David Ellis, meanwhile, will get one hour to argue for Blagojevich to be removed.

And when all is said and done and the last gavel has finally sounded on this bizarre ordeal, legislators will return to the task of actually governing.

I’m ready for the final curtain on this one.


Sideshow Joe Needs to Stop It Already

Sideshow Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States of America, needs to stop it already with the lame attempts at humor, especially while doing anything official.

Biden took a dig at Chief Justice John Roberts today at a White House ceremony to swear in senior staff. Biden said, “My memory is not as good as Chief Justice Roberts.”

President Obama was not pleased.  Watch the video for yourself.

There’s a time and a place for everything, Joe.  You weren’t elected for your delightful sense of humor.  Stop being a sideshow and be a part of history.

Be the Change, Joe.  Not the joke.


Obama to Close Gitmo: Nicely Done, Mr. President

In one day and a few strokes of the pen, President Obama signed an executive order that will close Guantanamo Bay prison within a year and prosecute terrorism suspects in the United States.

Granted, closing Gitmo is easier said than done:

Underscoring the difficult decisions Obama must make to fulfill his pledge of shutting down Guantanamo, the plan could require the creation of a new legal system to handle the classified information inherent in some of the most sensitive cases.

The issue is only so difficult because the Bush Administration dispensed with Habeas Corpus, and much of the United States Constitution with it.

With a few more strokes of the pen, President Obama banned torture.

To think that in 2009, it would take an act of the President of the United States to ban torture by the United States.

“Both civil libertarians and ex-CIA officials involved in interrogations and detentions policies hailed the changes,” says the Washington Independent.

Under the executive orders issued Thursday, the CIA’s interrogators cannot question detainees using “any interrogation technique or approach, or any treatment related to interrogation, that is not authorized by and listed in Army Field Manual 2 22.3.” That manual was rewritten by the Army in 2006 to reemphasize its compliance with the Geneva Conventions and U.S. laws banning torture. The Bush administration took an unyielding stance toward exempting CIA interrogations from that manual and those laws. But the Obama administration revoked all Bush administration executive orders from September 11, 2001 onward “concerning detention or the interrogation of detained individuals,” and directed the attorney general to conduct a thorough review of all other “directives, orders, and regulations” on the subject issued by the Bush administration that are no longer applicable.

Remember the Geneva Conventions?  They’re worth reviewing.  Seems we have a president who knows them, and desires to uphold them.

We all stand taller today.

Nicely done, Mr. President.


Rush Limbaugh Wants America to Fail

Flaming Comedian Rush Limbaugh

Comedian Rish Limbaugh wants America to fail.

Even before President Barack Obama (love the sound of that) took office, Limbaugh was hoping for his failure.  According to Faiz Shakir at Think Progress, last Friday, Limbaugh told his radio audience, ““I disagree fervently with the people on our [Republican] side of the aisle who have caved and who say, ‘Well, I hope he succeeds.’”

According to Shakir, Limbaugh said he was asked by a “major American print publication” to offer a 400-word statement explaining his “hope for the Obama presidency.”  His response?

So I’m thinking of replying to the guy, “Okay, I’ll send you a response, but I don’t need 400 words, I need four: I hope he fails.” (interruption) What are you laughing at? See, here’s the point. Everybody thinks it’s outrageous to say. Look, even my staff, “Oh, you can’t do that.” Why not? Why is it any different, what’s new, what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem. Liberalism is what’s gotten us dangerously close to the precipice here. Why do I want more of it? I don’t care what the Drive-By story is. I would be honored if the Drive-By Media headlined me all day long: “Limbaugh: I Hope Obama Fails.” Somebody’s gotta say it.

Really, Rush?  As bad as things are now, you want the president to fail?

If this president fails, America fails.  There is no other alternative.  The country is in an almost unprecedented financial crisis, inches away from another Depression.  The only people not suffering are the filthy rich who lack empathy, like Limbaugh.

Over 500,000 people lost their jobs last week.  That’s right — 500,000 people lost their jobs last week.

There aren’t enough pain pills in the world for them, Rush, even if you donate some of your stash.

The majority of Americans get it — the time for screaming matches is over.  Limbaugh’s audience will fade.  People will see him for what he is: a comedian in search of an audience.  Barack Obama is not the polarizing figure Bill Clinton was at times.  President Obama is an honest, likeable guy.And he’s honest.

It’s going to be tough being Rush the next four years.  And it’s about time.


We All Stand Taller Today

Martin.

The man whose name became a verb, quintessential action focused on the ultimate good.  We stand together today because Rosa sat, Martin marched, and Barack chose to run.

The sun has set on Monday.  Today is the day we’ve been waiting for, in many respects, since before this country was founded.

Have any of us ever seen the surrealistic festive atmosphere in the nation’s capitol in the days leading up to a Presidential Inauguration?

I stand in awe and joy as well, but I am bruised by the past eight years.  My economic recovery has yet to occur.  I wanted to go to Washington for the festivities, actually mentioned it at work months ago.

Then things got a lot worse, and the financial collapse hit much too close to home.  Things may get worse at home before they get better, indeed.

So I will stand and laugh and cry and pray tomorrow as Barack raises his right hand, and I will promise to hope for the future, focusing on the ultimate good.

Because we all stand taller today.  All of us.  And we must never let anything bring us down again.


Steelers Up 13-0 Over Baltimore

Ben Roethlisberger connects for a 63 yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes.

Baltimore is currently trying to convert for the first time today, game early in the second quarter.


GO STEELERS!

It’s Playoffs in Pittsburgh. Enough said.


Cheney to Swear In Roland Burris

How surreal will this be?

In one of his last official acts as Vice-President of the United States, Dick Cheney will swear in Rolan Burris as the junior senator from Illinois.  According to the Chicago Tribune, “Following the swearing in, Sen. Dick Durbin, the assistant majority leader who had initially blocked the Burris appointment, will host a reception in his honor.”

Yoi, and double yoi, as Myron Cope would have said.

I know that Roland Burris is the legal appointee for President-Elect Barack Obama’s senate seat.  I get that.  I understand that Gov. Blagojevich is defiant and crazy all rolled into one.

And Rolan Burris will be the junior senator from the Illinois.

I look forward to finally focusing on President Barack Obama.  The world desperately needs a voice of reason and sanity right now.

Six days.

Senator Roland Burris.

Yoi.  And Double yoi.