Monday, June 15, 2009

Mark Kirk on Warpath Against SuperPot, and Other Stories

Kirk Not Hot on SuperPot: Congressman Mark Kirk will hold a press conference today regarding his push for stricter penalties for selling so-called 'super pot' or 'kush' (as it apparently is known on the street). Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran agrees that this is a problem, as more and more of this stuff has been turning up in Lake County drug arrests.

Keith Turner Out for County Board: Democrat Keith Turner withdrew his name from consideration for the Lake County Board spot vacated by now-Waukegan Mayor Bob Sabonjian. Turner's planned appointment really pissed off Dem County Chairman Terry Link, who wanted his ally Bill Durkin nominated to fill that slot. County Board Chairwoman Suzi Schmidt refused to appoint Durkin because he is County Recorder of Deeds Mary Ellen Vanderventer's brother. TA hears Suzi already has some additional names under consideration, but something tells me Terry Link isn't going to get his way next time either.

Michael Bond Mandates Credit Cards on Metra, But Where's the Money? State Senator (and declared candidate for the 10th Congressional District) Michael Bond was finally able to get his legislation passed that forces Metra to accept credit cards. Big whoop. I am a Metra rider, and I have never felt inconvenienced by having to by my tickets with a check. But the point here is that Bond forced this down Metra's throat and provided no way to pay for the costs Metra will incur in gearing up to take credit cards. Metra estimates the cost will be $3 to $5 million annually. Wonder where they will get that money?

Can we say 'unfunded mandate'? Is the Michael Bond plan of governance to pick populist causes and force them through Congress, but have no plan to pay for the program? If you think this sounds like a typical Dem, I would have to agree with you. I don't think we need more of that type of thinking in Washington.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Terry Link and "Sneaky" Pete Couvall found something in Turner's past that caused him to withdraw. Tuner is no longer viable in politics.

The unfotunately Link and Couvall are still pulling the strings.

Will Suzi be able to appoint someone who isn't under their thumb?

Anonymous said...

The 10th Amendment states that all powers that aren't reserved for the federal government, in the Constitution, are reserved for the states. I read every word of the Constitution, and I didn't see the word "drug" or "marijuana." Therefore, any involvement, of the federal government, in drugs, is unconstitutional.

Conservative Veteran

Anonymous said...

y'all have been warned time and again that Turner is toxic...

Anonymous said...

Honestly, Bob Sabonjian was a fool to proffer Turner's name for this post and Suzi Schmidt more the fool for thinking she could use this appointment merely to poke Terry Link. It was the editor of the People's Voice who contacted Schmidt with the evidence regarding Turner's past, not Link or Couvall. It's pretty sad that with the resources of Mike Waller's office at her fingertips, Schmidt needs Ellroy Reed to save her from total embarrassment. If she's this clumsy navigating a county board appointment when she has control of the majority on the board, why should anyone believe she can handle Springfield? This whole sorry episode makes Schmidt and Sabonjian look silly, Terry Link and all the Democratic members of the Board look like they knew what they were talking about, and the people of the 8th CB District look duped for supporting Sabonjian in the first place. Sabonjian is growing more toxic by the minute.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the Turner withdraw, the Dems are on record talking about how they can't behind Turner because he might not run as a Dem, and therefore hurt their chances of taking control of the Lake County Board. If they had some dirt on him, why didn't they just bring it out?

Anonymous said...

If a Dem doesn't color in the lines, its 'highway robbery', an 'obscence gesture to the public', etc.
If newly non-Democrat Sabonjian and Republican Schmidt nominate someone who may not be ready for prime time, its not their fault?!
What happened to the Party of personal responsibility or did that stop with Mr. Foley taking the lead on anti-pedophile legislation and Mr. Craig being forced to cancel his airport bathrooms gone wild tour?

Also, how does Mark Kirk feel about dealers of super pot that have assault weapons despite the fact the ban on assault weapons expired on his watch?

Finally, I could be wrong, but the stimulus package he voted AGAINST may have included Justice Department, Community Policing, and Court Alternative program funds; none of which being in an ear-mark form. Good thing it passed despite him.

He's coming too close to appearing indecisive or extremely partisan. Of course to select an easy topic to take the lead on (super pot) is not going to put you in the current 'Profiles in Courage.'

Anonymous said...

Enough with the county board stuff. That matters to 4 people, w/all due respects to TA. Let's get to something more interesting, people to replace Mark if he goes for another office.

My top choices

1. Ed P. Kelly, former Porter staffer, Kirk deputy district ops chief. Knows this district the way a fox knows a rabbit. All around good guy and one fine american.

2. Doug O'Brien former Kirk chief of staff, health and human services head. Knows d.c. can raise dough and likely to win the irish vote hands down.

3. Beth Coulsen. Frankly would be a good candidate but thanks to chief mckenna the term moderate republican is almost equal to the term rex grossman these days. I don't think she has the stones, but she has had success taking out local dem nutjobs like dan biss and it would be tough to hate on a pro-choice woman with no scandals or ties to bush.

4. Caryn Garber. Only because Ellen might have a stroke and keel over.

5. Gary Fencik. Yale, Chicago bear, was rumored to have past interest in political office.

6. Peter Fitzgerald.The only decent Republican to run for statewide office the last half generation. Lives in va, but you never lose the bug.




FOKLAES