Chicago Daily Observer

I suppose this is standard, to let your hometown Congressman puff for the state’s favorite son, which is what Rep. J.J., Jr. is given top-billing op-ed space today to do. But it’s too much bending over (backward) to let the man have his say, ignoring the purely partisan politics of the case:

Read More of the Tribune Op-Ed
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0212delegatefeb12,0,4373892.story

That’s his lede for a 680-word argument aimed at heading off the Hillary cause, which favors those super delegates. What, no Hillary spokesman?

Rep. J.J.’s position deserves airing, but not in this position of privilege and not at such length in words entirely of ... Read More...

Leslie Boudreau was billed $4,619 by the Illinois tollway, with only two weeks to pay up before charges would inflate to $15,739.

Two taxi drivers were billed $80,571 last year for unpaid tolls dating back to 2003.

And Carla Meier-a resident of downstate Illinois who doesn’t use the tollway-recently received a $62 tollway fine while incapable of driving due to a broken foot.

Sadly, with the tollway’s modern I-Pass system, these situations are not unique. The top 50 toll violators have $2.2 million in outstanding fines, and although present information isn’t available, violators owed $78 million at the end of 2005.

But how do these monstrous fines accumulate?

Well, electronic tolling is both a blessing and curse. While I-Pass reduces traffic congestion (you can pay a toll without stopping at a booth), it also streamlines the taxing process. First, you put down a deposit for a transmitter that attaches to ... Read More...

For Illinois Republicans this is the midst of a great depression. The news that suburban voters, even in the GOP heartland of DuPage County, pulled more Democrat than Republican ballots in the primary is an ominous foreshadowing of a very bleak November.

The likely presence of Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) on the national ticket makes a bad situation much worse. Obama is a favorite son who has energized the Democratic party nationally and has whipped it up to frenzy here in Illinois. The odds are very strong that Obama will be on the national ticket. I picked him to win last summer, believing there were just too many Democrats who don’t like Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Now, though, even if Clinton’s organizational strength prevails she almost has to work hard to persuade him to take the vice-presidential slot, whatever her personal preferences. With the racially-charged attacks the Clintons made ... Read More...

Here is some leadership that cities – including Chicago – could and should follow. It comes from citizens who are standing up in support of those who truly deserve it.

For months we’ve heard many chant the disingenuous phrase, “We hate the war but honor our armed forces”. For months we’ve watched universities banning military recruiters from their campuses, and city councils moving against military installations and recruiting offices, and even an ad calling a brave general a disgrace. This is hardly honoring the military members who are putting themselves in harms way to protect America. This is not hating the war but honoring the men and women serving America. This is a disgrace.

Now, a group in Florida is standing up against the anti-military speech and movements. The Navy’s Saint Augustine Council – made up entirely of citizens—is adopting the officers and crew of the USS Klakring – ... Read More...

Finger pointed and voice raised, Ald. Ed Smith fired what he believed was an impassioned insult at Cook County Recorder Gene Moore.

“Todd Stroger endorsed him!” Smith said of Moore during a debate before last week’s Democratic race for recorder. “Tell them! Todd Stroger endorsed you!”

The Cook County Board president’s name wasn’t anywhere to be found on countywide ballots, but his name repeatedly came up throughout the campaigns for recorder, state’s attorney and the Board of Review.