It’s starting to get interesting!
Just when I thought our Illinois mid-term races were gonna become the cure for insomnia, Wheaton State Rep and Governor Bruce Rauner primary opponent, Jeanne Ives, managed to rouse me from my semi-hibernatory January state.
And that’s not an easy thing to do!
During their Chicago Tribune endorsement interview, Ives seized the elephant by the trunk when she went after our beleaguered Guv for:
- Being eminently untrustworthy
- Lying to Chicago Cardinal Blaise Cupich about his stance on abortion
- Falling prey to his wife’s “socially progressive agenda”
- Being responsible for the state income tax hike
- Caving in to Speaker Michael Madigan “every time”
- Pandering to the union
while never quite giving the Governor an opportunity to speak. Are you taking notes Chris Kennedy?
Rauner was so flustered by her diatribe that he referred to it as “a filibustering screed,” which didn’t go over very well with anyone. Try saying that to your wife the next time you get into a domestic debate.
Never mind that Ives didn’t mention a damn thing about how she might actually govern, but we all know that being a semi-crazy conservative means never having to worry about the details.
The most fascinating thing about this scenario was that Rauner knew he couldn’t counterattack Ives because he’ll need all those conservative voters to have any shot at prevailing in the general election. So, he went after Madigan instead, which sent me right back into my pre-vernal slumber
Look! I have no intention of voting for Ms. Ives, but I really do enjoy watching a candidate campaign so effectively that they completely control the conversation – against the incumbent.
This may well turn out to be a real race before it’s over folks!
She’s mentally ill! Can’t a Christian nation do better?
We’ve all heard – and laughed about – the story of our serial O’Hare stowaway who, this time, managed to make it all the way to the UK earlier this month. Marilyn Hartman, 66, of Grayslake was charged with felony theft for boarding a British Airways flight to Heathrow Airport, where she was immediately apprehended and forced to take a flight home.
Of course, our illustrious friends at the TSA can’t explain how she managed to pull this off – at least a dozen separate times. And how the bleep do you get on a airplane without a boarding pass?
Upon reducing her bail, Cook County Judge Donald Parnese, Jr. warned Hartman to avoid O’Hare and Midway airports three separate times. But to absolutely no one’s surprise, a scant two days later, she was arrested in ORD terminal three at 1:30 a.m. by the Chicago Police.
So now, with her bond revoked, Hartman sits in Cook County jail, where she’ll get no real treatment to the tune of 150 taxpayer dollars a day.
Yes! She’s previously been ordered to undergo treatment and she’s up for yet another psychiatric evaluation, but that’s like telling Agent Orange to stop tweeting in the Krapper at 2 in the morning. The problem is, the kind of program Hartman needs are few and far between because, we the people, aren’t willing to foot the bill for it.
C’mon people! How can we call ourselves a Christian nation when we can’t handle this, the least of our sisters? This story may be somewhat amusing, but most of the scenarios involving the chronically mentally ill are not.
And the irony is, if we treated the mentally ill up front, the tax savings would be enormous.
Art Velasquez was a good man
One of the highlights of my brief stint at the Kane County Clerk’s office were the days Aurora activist, Art Velasquez, would come in for a conversation. He certainly wasn’t one of the typical politicians who regularly darkened Jack Cunningham’s doorway.
There was no “air” about Art, his feathers could not be ruffled, and he simply told the truth. Art had a unique gift for being able to compliment you and call you out in the same sentence – and he was almost always right!
I regret that we only got together a couple of times after I left the clerk’s office, but when we did, I always felt a little bit better about life afterwards.
Art died at the age of 83 last Saturday and, though there are very few absolutes in this existence, I can absolutely say that he loved Aurora with all his heart and he will be greatly missed.
So sorry to hear of Art’s passing. He truly was a genuinely nice person. He was an “up the block” neighbor of ours in North Aurora for many years. His children were in the Leos chapter of our North Aurora Lions Club when Jim was the advisor and his kids were as great as he was – a testament to both Mom and Dad. Rest in Peace Art. It was a privilege to call you friend.
Linda, Like I said, I looked forward to the days he stopped into the clerk’s office.
I couldn’t agree with you more on this one Jeff!
Gil, It’s always fun having folks agree!
But even more fun when they disagree, right? 🙂
It depends if it’s one of my “fan club” members or not!