First, in case you missed it, some good news. The Trib reported that yesterday an attempt to increase the state’s income tax failed when the state senate voted against putting a question on the November ballot “whether Illinois should have the power to implement a graduated tax rate…”
Republicans unleashed stinging arguments against the proposal, saying it is tantamount to a tax increase.
We’re not sure if the word “tantamount” was actually used during the debate, but we’re happy to see Republicans unleashing “stinging arguments.” We applaud those state senate Republicans for their victory. Next up should be the goal of winning enough state senate seats to where they can defeat more than just proposed constitutional amendments (which require a three-fifths vote).
Ozinga Bros. Concrete advertises on WLS radio
According to an AP news story, “[congressional candidate Marty] Ozinga won’t spend lots of own cash” in his race for congress. He’s not going to “dig deep” into his own pocket to fund his campaign. He doesn’t believe in “self-funding.” Of course he has to say that if he has any prayer of raising any money.
It does make us wonder about how many of his own dollars he had to commit to the race in order to get the support of the “mighty” state GOP apparatus. We’re kidding, of course. Ask Steve Greenberg about how much help he’s receiving from Andy McKenna’s “new day” IL GOP up in the 8th C.D.
Regardless, Ozinga is sounding conservative themes so far and showing courage in the kind of statements he’s making – particularly on Iraq. If Marty has time, he might want to peruse some notes we’ve compiled on the topic.
Oh, and it’s a safe bet that when you say this to the AP they run the quote:
My life, both in work and in community and in my family, is all based on a simple philosophical foundation that I exist first of all to honor and glorify God and then secondly to serve the crown of his creation which is our fellow man.
Peter Roskam in search of an idea
The Daily Herald reports that 6th district Congressman Peter Roskam is asking constituents to send him good ideas that could become law.
Roskam and several local lawmakers are calling on constituents to e-mail them with proposals for legislation that would benefit the district, which serves Cook and DuPage counties.
No idea’s too wacky.
No legislative proposal will be turned away.”
Constituents will be able to vote on the top five ideas that are submitted. The article asks, “Sound gimmicky?”
No, says state Sen. Christine Radogno, who joined Roskam in a near-empty gymnasium Monday at Erickson Elementary in Bloomingdale to tout the initiative, dubbed ‘There Ought to be a Law.’
‘We need our constituents to get more involved and talk to us,’ said Radogno, a LaGrange Republican. ‘We don’t have the corner of the market on good ideas.’
We sure are in agreement with Christine on that one.
We hope Peter Roskam gets some good ideas from the program. Then maybe he’ll start to show some leadership in Illinois on important issues like these five: the war in Iraq, health care, tax reform, out of control entitlement programs and excessive government spending.
Typically you can’t expect much from a freshman Congressman, but going forward we hope Roskam doesn’t approach the job like too many of his colleagues have. They’re not elected clerks, after all.
NBC5 headline: “Obama ‘Appalled’ By Ex-Pastor’s Comments”
This Jeremiah Wright – Barack Obama soap opera has been entertaining, and no doubt it’s changing some minds in the political middle. As has been said by other commentators, the fact that Obama is finally now offended by Wright’s statements doesn’t exactly bode well for Barack’s ability to interact with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Barack is not going to have twenty years to figure out that Mahmoud really does mean what he says.
Last year I wrote that I thought Obama wasn’t ready, but I do have to give him credit for his campaign trail stamina. His judgment is another matter, however. I never imagined it was this bad.
Obama has a nice voice and persona but his inner resume is problematic. Sitting behind that desk in the Oval Office requires abilities he clearly lacks. Paul Greenberg included this in his column today about Obama’s recent “bitter” remark:
If there was a point in this campaign when the Obama magic cracked, that was it. Suddenly we saw an empty young man unscarred by age or experience or any great failure in life.
Republicans have proven they know how to lose despite having all of the issues on their side. If they overcome that bad habit, Barack Obama might just finally experience a great failure this November.
