We have conflicting reports at this time regarding whether Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, has survived a shooting at a Safeway grocery store in Tucson. Earlier reports I saw said she was killed by a gunshot to the head, but now it appears that she is still in surgery.
Others who were there were also shot (as many as 12) and some have died.
There is little information on the gunman, who was tackled by bystanders when he tried to flee. He appears to be a young 20s-ish man, and there is currently no information as to whether the shooting was politically motivated.
Here Chicago, and many cities, we're used to a lot of violence. Even when policemen are killed in the line of duty, which is far too often, we seem to acknowledge the fact and mourn, and then move on with our lives. But this kind of senseless killing that potentially is an act that is antithetical to our entire form of free government is a national tragedy. By all accounts, Congresswoman Giffords was engaged in exactly the kind of activity that a true public servant was supposed to be doing -- going out on the street, into the community, and talking to her constituents. If the gunman's motivation was to stifle free speech, our democratic form of government, or to try to advance some kind of political agenda, no form of punishment is sufficient, and no words too strong, to condemn such a direct attack on our democratic, representative form of government.
We'll say a prayer for the victims and for Congresswoman Giffords, and hope she pulls through, and is able to continue representing her constituents.
UPDATED x1 3:20 p.m.: Latest word is that Congresswoman Giffords is alive. Of course, the blame for the shooting is already starting. But before people start laying the blame at the foot of right-wingers (the obvious target), you might want to take a look at the eerie coincidences over at Daily Kos (courtesy of HillBuzz).
UPDATED x2 3:30 p.m.: Appears that doctors say they are optimistic about Giffords' recovery and she is out of surgery. Is this guy the shooter?
UPDATED x3 5:10 pm: Elected officials are being warned to take precautions in the wake of the Giffords shooting. New Congressman Bob Dold had this reaction to the shooting:
"As officials, it is one of the greatest honors to represent the needs and concerns of our residents, and we will not allow the deplorable actions of one effect our ability to serve our districts, states and country," said Rep. Bob Dold
UPDATED x4 8:45 pm: Though its been more than 12 hours since this tragedy, answers are slow in coming, and in many ways, may never come. The natural instinct in such situations is to try to understand, to make sense of what has happened, but sometimes it's just not possible. Right now, I'm sure the suspect is being questioned, and everyone is trying to find out more about this person, to understand what drove him to do this. Here's Ben Smith of Politico on what he's been able to piece together, and I'm sure we will learn much more about this obviously very disturbed, if not insane, person. More here.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Dear Illinois Voters: Thank Yourselves for That Massive Tax Increase
I really do try not to be too preachy on this blog, but sometimes I just can't resist. If you haven't already heard, the Democrats plan to dig deep, deep into your wallet to try to dig the state out of the same debt that they created, with a massive 75% tax increase. The very last decent aspect of living or doing business in the State of Illinois just went out the window, folks. The tax structure in socialist Wisconsin is now starting to look pretty good. But, considering that Wisconsin woke up this past election cycle and kicked out the socialists and put in the Republicans, they have at least figured something out.
So, we're looking now at a 2.25% tax hike in personal income taxes, but that might even go up. Of that, exactly 0% is accompanied by any reforms in spending or state pensions. But wait, the Dems are saying, much of this is only a "temporary" tax hike.
Yeah, right.
Well, campers, if you don't like it, you have no one to blame but yourselves. You, the citizens of Illinois are the folks who put Madigan's foot soldiers like Carol Sente, Karen May, Daniel Biss and the rest into office. Not to mention Pat Quinn. Who, by the way, had stated on the campaign trail that while he thought we needed an income tax increase, he'd veto anything over 1%. What happened to that promise? (There's a remote possibility, maybe, that this is all a head-fake and the real plan is to push through a 1% increase or something smaller that will look better in comparison to the shocking massive hike now being proposed - it's never easy to predict what the rascals in Springfield will do).
I predict the phone will be ringing off the hook today at Lake County Republican Headquarters, with people railing about how unfair and ridiculous this is, and hey, what do the Republicans plan to do about it?
If I was answering the phones today, for every caller who rings to complain, the first question I would ask is, why are you surprised, and the second is, what did you do to help elect reform candidates like Sugrue, Chang, Turelli and other Republicans who might have been able to make a difference?
But that's why they don't let me answer the phones.
So, we're looking now at a 2.25% tax hike in personal income taxes, but that might even go up. Of that, exactly 0% is accompanied by any reforms in spending or state pensions. But wait, the Dems are saying, much of this is only a "temporary" tax hike.
Yeah, right.
Well, campers, if you don't like it, you have no one to blame but yourselves. You, the citizens of Illinois are the folks who put Madigan's foot soldiers like Carol Sente, Karen May, Daniel Biss and the rest into office. Not to mention Pat Quinn. Who, by the way, had stated on the campaign trail that while he thought we needed an income tax increase, he'd veto anything over 1%. What happened to that promise? (There's a remote possibility, maybe, that this is all a head-fake and the real plan is to push through a 1% increase or something smaller that will look better in comparison to the shocking massive hike now being proposed - it's never easy to predict what the rascals in Springfield will do).
I predict the phone will be ringing off the hook today at Lake County Republican Headquarters, with people railing about how unfair and ridiculous this is, and hey, what do the Republicans plan to do about it?
If I was answering the phones today, for every caller who rings to complain, the first question I would ask is, why are you surprised, and the second is, what did you do to help elect reform candidates like Sugrue, Chang, Turelli and other Republicans who might have been able to make a difference?
But that's why they don't let me answer the phones.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
John Boehner Takes Over In Washington, With Support From Bob Dold and Joe Walsh, But Wait: We've Got Tax Trouble Back Home
Washington DC was abuzz yesterday with the swearing-in of former GOP Minority Leader John Boehner as Speaker of the House, in a peaceful changing of the guard ceremony that saw reviled former leader Nancy Pelosi hand over the gavel. Her tenure didn't last long, thankfully, but she was able to do quite a bit of damage that it will take Republicans some time to undo:
"The American people didn't send us here to get things done. It may sound odd. They sent us here to stop what has been done," said new U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh.
They may not be entirely successful, given the Dem-controlled U.S. Senate and White House. Still, it's a great start. Scanning through some of the Sunday morning talk shows this previous weekend, it seems that the Dems' game plan is to say, okay, you guys are in the majority, now lead us.
Good. Get the hell out of the way, and we will.
Bob Dold and Joe Walsh, our new Congressmen were also sworn in, and proud to support new Speaker Boehner.
Repealing ObamaCare will be the top initial priority of the new Congress:
"I believe that this law is a bad law. I believe there are things and aspects of it that are good, but I believe that we need to have broad, bipartisan support. I didn't like the way the process was taken, and will vote to repeal," Dold said.
Meanwhile, though, we've got trouble right here in River City, and while local GOPers may be whooping it up for a day, cheering on Senator Mark Kirk, new Congressmen Dold and Walsh and the rest, the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pat Quinn are getting down to the wire in deciding what massive tax hike to hit Illinois residents with. Based on various news sources, it seems like we're going to get at least a 2% tax hike -- which they may try to sell (at least partially) as a 'temporary' tax hike, but if you believe that, I have a prison in Thomson to sell you.
You don't like it, you say? Did you support Hamilton Chang, Dan Sugrue, Lauren Turelli or any other GOP candidates for the General Assembly? Did you knock on any doors? Give any money? Go to any rallies? Write any letters to the editor? If you did, then thank you. But if you didn't, you have no one to blame but yourself.
"The American people didn't send us here to get things done. It may sound odd. They sent us here to stop what has been done," said new U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh.
They may not be entirely successful, given the Dem-controlled U.S. Senate and White House. Still, it's a great start. Scanning through some of the Sunday morning talk shows this previous weekend, it seems that the Dems' game plan is to say, okay, you guys are in the majority, now lead us.
Good. Get the hell out of the way, and we will.
Bob Dold and Joe Walsh, our new Congressmen were also sworn in, and proud to support new Speaker Boehner.
Repealing ObamaCare will be the top initial priority of the new Congress:
"I believe that this law is a bad law. I believe there are things and aspects of it that are good, but I believe that we need to have broad, bipartisan support. I didn't like the way the process was taken, and will vote to repeal," Dold said.
Meanwhile, though, we've got trouble right here in River City, and while local GOPers may be whooping it up for a day, cheering on Senator Mark Kirk, new Congressmen Dold and Walsh and the rest, the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pat Quinn are getting down to the wire in deciding what massive tax hike to hit Illinois residents with. Based on various news sources, it seems like we're going to get at least a 2% tax hike -- which they may try to sell (at least partially) as a 'temporary' tax hike, but if you believe that, I have a prison in Thomson to sell you.
You don't like it, you say? Did you support Hamilton Chang, Dan Sugrue, Lauren Turelli or any other GOP candidates for the General Assembly? Did you knock on any doors? Give any money? Go to any rallies? Write any letters to the editor? If you did, then thank you. But if you didn't, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Democrats Encourage Bob Dold to Spend, Spend, Spend in New Congress
Our new Congressmen representing us in Lake County, Joe Walsh and Bob Dold, have a pretty clear picture of what we sent them to Congress to do: Reduce the size of government, reduce government spending, and reduce the deficit.
Local Democrats are worried, and they should be. Above all, local Dems (think Lauren Beth Gash and the 10th Dems), like their glorious leader Obama, think that the government is the only true economic engine that can bail us out of the recession, and the last thing to do in tough economic times is to slash the ability of government to spend, spend, spend. Never mind if we can't afford it, and our childrens' children will have to pay for it. That's all way down the road.
Bob Dold and the other Republicans in the incoming freshman class are having none of it. Make no mistake, they are going to be targeted by the Dems. But the good news is, no matter what the Dems can do, they have at least two years in which to transform government, which is what we want.
Over New Years, I was at a gathering in which one of my friends' father, a English gentleman who was very nice, but a true socialist, engaged me in conversation (since he'd been told I was active in politics) and seemed genuinely interested in my view on Obama, the economy, and government spending. He seemed to believe that America was a left-of-center nation and was a big Obama fan. I told him that the polls pretty clearly show that America is truly a right-of-center nation, and that the mantra of most Americans I know is that the less government, the better, and that as a rule, private citizen know who to spend their money better than the government can. There was more of this, and it was all very cordial, but eventually I retreated to the safety of the basement to supervise the kids so I didn't end up really ticking off my friend's dad at his party. He was pretty much an unrepentant European socialist who truly believed that government was needed to take care of everyone -- whether or not they could take care of themselves, given the chance, and whether or not they wanted it.
I expect such a world view from someone raised in Europe their whole life, but I expected a little more out of our local Democrats.
Local Democrats are worried, and they should be. Above all, local Dems (think Lauren Beth Gash and the 10th Dems), like their glorious leader Obama, think that the government is the only true economic engine that can bail us out of the recession, and the last thing to do in tough economic times is to slash the ability of government to spend, spend, spend. Never mind if we can't afford it, and our childrens' children will have to pay for it. That's all way down the road.
Bob Dold and the other Republicans in the incoming freshman class are having none of it. Make no mistake, they are going to be targeted by the Dems. But the good news is, no matter what the Dems can do, they have at least two years in which to transform government, which is what we want.
Over New Years, I was at a gathering in which one of my friends' father, a English gentleman who was very nice, but a true socialist, engaged me in conversation (since he'd been told I was active in politics) and seemed genuinely interested in my view on Obama, the economy, and government spending. He seemed to believe that America was a left-of-center nation and was a big Obama fan. I told him that the polls pretty clearly show that America is truly a right-of-center nation, and that the mantra of most Americans I know is that the less government, the better, and that as a rule, private citizen know who to spend their money better than the government can. There was more of this, and it was all very cordial, but eventually I retreated to the safety of the basement to supervise the kids so I didn't end up really ticking off my friend's dad at his party. He was pretty much an unrepentant European socialist who truly believed that government was needed to take care of everyone -- whether or not they could take care of themselves, given the chance, and whether or not they wanted it.
I expect such a world view from someone raised in Europe their whole life, but I expected a little more out of our local Democrats.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Seeing More and More to Like With Joe Walsh in IL-8
Joe Walsh is bound and determined to change Washington, D.C., regardless of who he annoys along the way. And a lot of people seem to be treating that as a breath of fresh air. Walsh is now refusing to take part in the Congressional health care plan, and is fearless about offering his perspective on other issues such as the Bush tax cut compromise, regardless of whether he thinks it might hurt his chances for re-election. He's so serious about not straying from his appointed mission, he reportedly plans to sleep in his office.
Wow, where might we be if all politicians were worried more about doing what was right than protecting their own skins?
Wow, where might we be if all politicians were worried more about doing what was right than protecting their own skins?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas in Hawaii
No, TA is not lucky enough to be spending Christmas in Oahu, but some close friends sent me this picture over the weekend. I was checking my sitemeter and thought that all the hits from Honolulu might be President Obama checking up on the blog, but then I realized who it must be, so I figured the least I could do is post the photo. Thanks guys!
For the rest of us, I hope it cheers everyone up as we dig out from last night's snow... remember, it's bikini weather somewhere.
Tribune Reports In On the 'Middleness' of Senator Kirk
I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas yesterday. It was quite a busy one around the TA household, and thanks given for blessings received and shared, but now it's time to get back to business. This morning the Tribune reports in on what we've been tracking for some weeks, that is, that Senator Kirk is charting a course right of center, but nevertheless down the middle, as Kirk gets going on his Senatorial career. The Trib notes that Kirk will not be up for re-election until 2016, so the Jim DeMints of the world are not going to have a lot of impact on Kirk for a long time, if ever. Who knows what the world will look like in five years anyway?
A lot of people in my professional life know I'm identified with Mark Kirk as a strong supporter, so lots of people like to give me their $0.02 about issues, assuming I can take that right to the Senator (sometimes yes, sometimes no, is the answer to that). But one comment I have been hearing over the past few weeks, from way more than just one person, is that they are hopeful now that the election is over, that Mark Kirk will be the kind of Senator that resembled the Congressman "he used to be." To that I say, yes, I understand what you mean, and I hope so too, but it's up to all of us to make it known that we support people like Mark Kirk who are a vanishing breed of independent, thinking Republicans, and that it's OK not to be a hyper-partisan fire-breathing right-winger if you want to get re-elected. I then usually lecture the person on the perils and sad state of partisan politics in this country until their eyes glaze over and they make an excuse to get away, but I've made my point.
If you like a thoughtful, independent politician, let your friends know about Mark Kirk. Eventually, he'll be up for re-election, and then it will be time to let the dogmatists know that we want to keep our independent-minded Senator around.
A lot of people in my professional life know I'm identified with Mark Kirk as a strong supporter, so lots of people like to give me their $0.02 about issues, assuming I can take that right to the Senator (sometimes yes, sometimes no, is the answer to that). But one comment I have been hearing over the past few weeks, from way more than just one person, is that they are hopeful now that the election is over, that Mark Kirk will be the kind of Senator that resembled the Congressman "he used to be." To that I say, yes, I understand what you mean, and I hope so too, but it's up to all of us to make it known that we support people like Mark Kirk who are a vanishing breed of independent, thinking Republicans, and that it's OK not to be a hyper-partisan fire-breathing right-winger if you want to get re-elected. I then usually lecture the person on the perils and sad state of partisan politics in this country until their eyes glaze over and they make an excuse to get away, but I've made my point.
If you like a thoughtful, independent politician, let your friends know about Mark Kirk. Eventually, he'll be up for re-election, and then it will be time to let the dogmatists know that we want to keep our independent-minded Senator around.
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