Dan Proft and Monroe Anderson tore into the issues in discussing the preliminary appointments and possible appointments by president-elect Barack Obama, including the rumor that US Senator Hillary Clinton will become Secretary of State. What impact with former President Bill Clinton have on the decision. The controversies surrounding former Congressman and now Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, the son of a former member of the terrorist organization the Irgun, and also the appointment of Eric Holder.
Check the 11-19-08 audio podcast on the Flash iPod player on this blog, or go to www.RadioChicagoland.com for more information. Also, watch a live video and audio broadcast of the radio show live on the internet off the web page, too.
-- Ray Hanania
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Great debate on Obama: Dan Proft and Monroe Anderson podcast now online
Dan Proft and Monroe Anderson tore into the issues in discussing the preliminary appointments and possible appointments by president-elect Barack Obama, including the rumor that US Senator Hillary Clinton will become Secretary of State. What impact with former President Bill Clinton have on the decision. The controversies surrounding former Congressman and now Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, the son of a former member of the terrorist organization the Irgun, and also the appointment of Eric Holder.
Check the 11-19-08 audio podcast on the Flash iPod player on this blog, or go to www.RadioChicagoland.com for more information. Also, watch a live video and audio broadcast of the radio show live on the internet off the web page, too.
-- Ray Hanania
Check the 11-19-08 audio podcast on the Flash iPod player on this blog, or go to www.RadioChicagoland.com for more information. Also, watch a live video and audio broadcast of the radio show live on the internet off the web page, too.
-- Ray Hanania
Bail out the auto industry? How about some help for consumers first
Even if they give the auto industry $25 billion in bailout assistance -- where are they coming up with all this money anyway? -- it won't mean the auto industry will not layoff another round of workers. They will. This bailout is to save the greedy CEOs and Executives who are making millions and don't deserve it.
Why is the American auto industry in trouble? Becuase they make bad cars. They knew in 1974, after the Arab Oil Embargo, that Oil was going to be a problem. And still, they refused to make better and cheaper and more gas efficient cars. Instead, they made cars that appealed to the macho-image of some. Gas-guzzlers that cost a fortune and padded the profits of the auto industry CEOs and executives.
Now, because they did a lousy job of running their companies, they want the American taxpayers to bail them out? Are you kidding me? If the CEO of a company -- even the owner -- mismanaged a company so bad that it was on the verge of collapse. THEY WOULD BE FIRED. So, fire them first before you get them one red cent.
Foreign car makers are doing what American car makers were to greedy and arrogant to do. They make better, more reliable cars. And, you can bet the first real energy efficient cars that make real progress in conserving gasoline usage will come not from the US but from the foreign countries. American auto makers are producing "energy efficient" cars that are barely energy efficient and that have been designed for profits not performance. The so-called energy efficient cars cost $5,000 more than the junk the industry is now selling to us.
I say hell with them. Let them clean up their industry first. And, the first auto industry CEO who says that this country will go down the tubes because of the collapse of their company should be prosecuted on federal charges of corruption and mismanagement and taxpayer abuse. FIRE THEM. And then, and only then, should we give them any money.
Listen to the podcast of my rant on this subject Tuesday and to the calls from callers on my radio show this past Tuesday by visiting www.RadioChicagoland.com. But you have not heard the last on this topic!
-- Ray Hanania
Why is the American auto industry in trouble? Becuase they make bad cars. They knew in 1974, after the Arab Oil Embargo, that Oil was going to be a problem. And still, they refused to make better and cheaper and more gas efficient cars. Instead, they made cars that appealed to the macho-image of some. Gas-guzzlers that cost a fortune and padded the profits of the auto industry CEOs and executives.
Now, because they did a lousy job of running their companies, they want the American taxpayers to bail them out? Are you kidding me? If the CEO of a company -- even the owner -- mismanaged a company so bad that it was on the verge of collapse. THEY WOULD BE FIRED. So, fire them first before you get them one red cent.
Foreign car makers are doing what American car makers were to greedy and arrogant to do. They make better, more reliable cars. And, you can bet the first real energy efficient cars that make real progress in conserving gasoline usage will come not from the US but from the foreign countries. American auto makers are producing "energy efficient" cars that are barely energy efficient and that have been designed for profits not performance. The so-called energy efficient cars cost $5,000 more than the junk the industry is now selling to us.
I say hell with them. Let them clean up their industry first. And, the first auto industry CEO who says that this country will go down the tubes because of the collapse of their company should be prosecuted on federal charges of corruption and mismanagement and taxpayer abuse. FIRE THEM. And then, and only then, should we give them any money.
Listen to the podcast of my rant on this subject Tuesday and to the calls from callers on my radio show this past Tuesday by visiting www.RadioChicagoland.com. But you have not heard the last on this topic!
-- Ray Hanania
Monday, November 17, 2008
Property taxes skyrocket -- local fees quietly increase too
After months of backdoor tax increases from the Village of Orland Park, my actual Water Rate did go up this last bill, 19 cents per unit of water I consume every two months, or about $1.61.
But the bulk of the increases reflect backdoor tax increases (fees) quietly approved by the Village of Orland Park while they have been telling the sympathetic local news media that they are not increasing taxes and are rebating our village taxes -- well, not all of it. But according to one paper, that's "good news."
No. It's mnot good news, especially when the other fees in our water bill, for example, increase quietly, too, with noe xplanation from Mayor McLaughlin, or, as I will be calling him from now on, King Dan. Under King Dan's Chicago Machine Manual of Politics, you don't explain anything. You just keep putting out press releases showcasing the positive news, and avoid any accountability or explanation on the bad news. And, when the media does hold his royal feet to the political fire, no wonder he is so arrogant and believes he can do whatever he wants.
Storm water and sewer service also went up. The others, went up already months ago.
On top of it all, it's just a drop int he bucket of how you, the naive sheep-like taxpayers, are being screwed. But that's the way you like, it right. Rough. And without warning or consent. Because in this Chicago Machine town, which is a satellite of the bigger Machine in Chicago and Cook County, raising taxes is just a part of the blame-game.
Have you looked at the letter from Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan this week, announcing a major increase in your property assessed valuation?
Oh yea. While your property values are dropping like federal indictments in a typical Chicago City Council year, your property assessments are skyrocketing. Most homes will increase about 15 percent in assessments, even though the actual value of the homes has dropped by as much as 30 percent and more in some regions.
Nayor Daley, Kig Dan's sponsor, says it is because of Houlihan. Daley -- I have to laugh every time I hear him speak -- says (that's being generous) that Houlihan is responsible because he is the "Assessor."
No, Mayor. The Assessor does not determine the assessments. The assessor basically translates the tax increases divide up based on the number of homes and properties being taxed, and that's how your assessment increases.
But Daley knows the blame game better than most. In reality, the reason for your property tax hike -- which will equal as much as $1,000 to $2,500 for many homes in Orland Park and across Cook County -- is that Mayor Daley has increased his budget and it is the increase in government spending that is driving up taxes. Daley's pal, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, also jacked up his own budget spending, and part of that spending will be covered by the humongous increase in the sales tax -- which combined with the King Dan .75 sales tax increase of 2001 (which King Dan said would be off-set by the village tax rebate, which is being off-set this year by his political arrogance and poor budget management to just over half of what it was promised to be) -- is making your depressed property on the free market look like a worthless piece of junk. But on the Chicago and county and Orland Park tax rolls, it looks like a mansion that has increased significantly in value.
The value of your home goes down. But not Mayor Daley's salary or Todd Stroger's salary. You pay more. And Daly and Stroger know of stupid you really are, so gullible you will believe anything they say and still vote for them in exchange for a new garbage can lid -- the bartering system set up when the Chicago Machine was first built by slaves in the 1950s.
And the taxes on your home go up.
And the lies and twist, and turns, and spin from the elected officials, including King Dan, continue. No accountability at all. They just decide they will break their promise to off-set the Orland Park home rule sales tax increase of .75 percent by rebating our full property tax. They did it just long enough to win your votes. Gain your confidence. And then. WHAM!
They shove it up your tax bill.
Merry Christmas everyone.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
But the bulk of the increases reflect backdoor tax increases (fees) quietly approved by the Village of Orland Park while they have been telling the sympathetic local news media that they are not increasing taxes and are rebating our village taxes -- well, not all of it. But according to one paper, that's "good news."
No. It's mnot good news, especially when the other fees in our water bill, for example, increase quietly, too, with noe xplanation from Mayor McLaughlin, or, as I will be calling him from now on, King Dan. Under King Dan's Chicago Machine Manual of Politics, you don't explain anything. You just keep putting out press releases showcasing the positive news, and avoid any accountability or explanation on the bad news. And, when the media does hold his royal feet to the political fire, no wonder he is so arrogant and believes he can do whatever he wants.
Storm water and sewer service also went up. The others, went up already months ago.
On top of it all, it's just a drop int he bucket of how you, the naive sheep-like taxpayers, are being screwed. But that's the way you like, it right. Rough. And without warning or consent. Because in this Chicago Machine town, which is a satellite of the bigger Machine in Chicago and Cook County, raising taxes is just a part of the blame-game.
Have you looked at the letter from Cook County Assessor Jim Houlihan this week, announcing a major increase in your property assessed valuation?
Oh yea. While your property values are dropping like federal indictments in a typical Chicago City Council year, your property assessments are skyrocketing. Most homes will increase about 15 percent in assessments, even though the actual value of the homes has dropped by as much as 30 percent and more in some regions.
Nayor Daley, Kig Dan's sponsor, says it is because of Houlihan. Daley -- I have to laugh every time I hear him speak -- says (that's being generous) that Houlihan is responsible because he is the "Assessor."
No, Mayor. The Assessor does not determine the assessments. The assessor basically translates the tax increases divide up based on the number of homes and properties being taxed, and that's how your assessment increases.
But Daley knows the blame game better than most. In reality, the reason for your property tax hike -- which will equal as much as $1,000 to $2,500 for many homes in Orland Park and across Cook County -- is that Mayor Daley has increased his budget and it is the increase in government spending that is driving up taxes. Daley's pal, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger, also jacked up his own budget spending, and part of that spending will be covered by the humongous increase in the sales tax -- which combined with the King Dan .75 sales tax increase of 2001 (which King Dan said would be off-set by the village tax rebate, which is being off-set this year by his political arrogance and poor budget management to just over half of what it was promised to be) -- is making your depressed property on the free market look like a worthless piece of junk. But on the Chicago and county and Orland Park tax rolls, it looks like a mansion that has increased significantly in value.
The value of your home goes down. But not Mayor Daley's salary or Todd Stroger's salary. You pay more. And Daly and Stroger know of stupid you really are, so gullible you will believe anything they say and still vote for them in exchange for a new garbage can lid -- the bartering system set up when the Chicago Machine was first built by slaves in the 1950s.
And the taxes on your home go up.
And the lies and twist, and turns, and spin from the elected officials, including King Dan, continue. No accountability at all. They just decide they will break their promise to off-set the Orland Park home rule sales tax increase of .75 percent by rebating our full property tax. They did it just long enough to win your votes. Gain your confidence. And then. WHAM!
They shove it up your tax bill.
Merry Christmas everyone.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Misleading book on USS Liberty pedaled by critic of Liberty veterans
When Ahron Jay Cristol, a self-described "amateur historian," showed up at the National Security Agency's (NSA) National Cryptologic Museum at Fort George C. Meade, MD., on Jan. 14, 2004, there was something almost sacrilegious about his presence there. ...
Read the historical story?
Read the historical story?
Hate crime declared in racist attack in Orland Park
Despite the local media's "Happy Talk" spin, thinsg are not so happy in Orland Park.
Read this story about the hate crime attack at Wenday's Restaurant on 145th and LaGrange Road.
Read this story about the hate crime attack at Wenday's Restaurant on 145th and LaGrange Road.
Former Frankfort Trustee behind Draft Tom Cross for Governor
Jake Parrillo, who now works for Google, is the designer behind the very popular web blog Draft Tome Cross for Governor at www.ItsTimeforTom.com which is promoting Illinois Republican House Minority Leader Tom Cross to run for governor of Illinois against Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Parrillo discusses the draft and the use of the internet in such a very effective way in an election campaign on my radio show on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, which was broadcast live this morning at around 8:45 am. (You can hear the full podcast and other audio files by visiting www.RadioChicagoland.com.
but, it was interesting to catch up with Jake who was one of th estate's youngest elected officials, serving in Frankfort in the early 1990s. He moved when he married a to Elmhurst and now works for Google.
I hope you tune in to the interview.
And, as an aside, Radio Chicagoland is now not only broadcast live on the radio, we also simulcast the radio broadcast on the Internet.
But, beginning today, we started to also video and audio broadcast the radio show on our web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com so you can watch the show and hear it live.
I hope you check out the live video broadcast tomorrow morning. The show is broadcast on radio Monday through Friday from 8 am until 9:30 (until 9 on Fridays).
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
but, it was interesting to catch up with Jake who was one of th estate's youngest elected officials, serving in Frankfort in the early 1990s. He moved when he married a to Elmhurst and now works for Google.
I hope you tune in to the interview.
And, as an aside, Radio Chicagoland is now not only broadcast live on the radio, we also simulcast the radio broadcast on the Internet.
But, beginning today, we started to also video and audio broadcast the radio show on our web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com so you can watch the show and hear it live.
I hope you check out the live video broadcast tomorrow morning. The show is broadcast on radio Monday through Friday from 8 am until 9:30 (until 9 on Fridays).
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
radio interviews, internet and elections,a nd broadcasting radio show in video format
What a busy week. Great guests on the radio, as usual. We had author Caryn Amster discussing her book about the murder of his father "The Pied Piper of South Shore" on Monday, followed by a discussion with Democrat State Sen. Mike Jacobs from the Quad-Cities talking about forming an exploratory committee to look into his possible run for governor in 2010 against incumbent Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Tuesday, we spoke with Jay Paul Deratany, who had one of the BEST campaign commercials supporting his bid for the Cook County Board fo tax Review against Machine incumbent Joe Berrios,a nd the one-sided media coverage including on the Comcast Cable TV network where one host who does business with the county hosted Berrios on his show. (Shame!). And, Deratany discusses his new play performing through Dec. 7 at the Athenaeum Theater in Chicago that discusses the execution of two 15 year old Iranian boys accused of being Gay/Homosexuals in Iran.
Later, we had a moving discussion with Ron Kukal, the chiefpetty officer of the USS Liberty which was attacked by Israel on June 8, 1967, 40 years ago. Till this day, extremist supporters of Israel have refused to allow Americans to know the truth, that the attack was intentional and that Israel wanted to kill every American soldier on the ship that day in order, it is theorized, to provoke the United States to enter the war in full force -- and with unrestrained vengeance -- and launch a nuclear attack against Egypt, Israel's mortal enemy back then. Kukal had to identify and supervise the recovering of the 34 dead American soldiers killed in several Israeli attack waves even though the ship displayed the American Flag.
The Ron Kukal interview is in honor of Nov. 11, Veteran's Day. Veterans who have challenged Israel's lies on this issue have been denounced, typically, as being anti-Semitic and haters. but the truth is they are American soldiers whow ent into the war to defend Israel and to help Israel, only to be abused, murdered and mistreated by Israel and later by Sen. John McCain's father, Admiral McCain who helped in the coverup of the Israeli intentional assault.
Wednesday, we again lightened up with a fascinating interview with Jason LaBrousse, a tour guide for the Chicago Trolley service downtown, taking Chicago downtown history and trivia.
And, we interviewed American Soldier Daniel J. Turner who is serving in Taji Iraq. That was followed by an eye-opener interview with Cook County Board Commission Mike Quigley who talked about how some county commissioners are abusing the "reimbursement" fund of $1,200 a month they each receive, treating it, possibly illegally, as income.
Today, I interviewed the Rev. Johnny Dodd who hosts a morning gospel program Mon-Thursday before my own morning show.
This was a special day as Mornings with Ray Hanania is now broadcast in live video and audio format on the internet. You can hear and watch the radio show by visiting www.RadioChicagoland.com. You don't have to do anything, just go to the web page and the broadcast starts automatically (when the show is being broadcast on the radio) right on the page.
As you know, we also podcast the audio files and you can use the Flash iPod player on the web site to review and then pick from every interview and play the audio file right from the web page without ever leaving. And, you can check out the list of individual interviews I have hosted since starting back in radio in September 2007.
I also interviewed Ray Long, who is celebrating his 10th year as the Chicago Tribune's Springfield bureau correspondent, talking about the ongoing battle between House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and other issues like Casino gaming and the state's deteriorating economy.
I also have a podcast reminiscing about covering former Chicago Mayor Jane. M. Byrne and talking about my friend the late Harry Golden Junior.
And, we end with an interview with Google's Jake Parrillo, a former trustee from Frankfort, Illinois, who is now living in Elmhurst and running the draft Tom Cross for Governor web blog at www.ItsTimeforTom.com. Cross is the Republican House Minority Leader in the Illinois Senate.
Today's show (Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008) was broadcast live on Internevt video and despite some initial minor complications involving some initial sound loss in the very beginning from our caller Ray Long, the show went off well. (The entire Ray Long interview is podcast on my web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com.)
Tuesday, we spoke with Jay Paul Deratany, who had one of the BEST campaign commercials supporting his bid for the Cook County Board fo tax Review against Machine incumbent Joe Berrios,a nd the one-sided media coverage including on the Comcast Cable TV network where one host who does business with the county hosted Berrios on his show. (Shame!). And, Deratany discusses his new play performing through Dec. 7 at the Athenaeum Theater in Chicago that discusses the execution of two 15 year old Iranian boys accused of being Gay/Homosexuals in Iran.
Later, we had a moving discussion with Ron Kukal, the chiefpetty officer of the USS Liberty which was attacked by Israel on June 8, 1967, 40 years ago. Till this day, extremist supporters of Israel have refused to allow Americans to know the truth, that the attack was intentional and that Israel wanted to kill every American soldier on the ship that day in order, it is theorized, to provoke the United States to enter the war in full force -- and with unrestrained vengeance -- and launch a nuclear attack against Egypt, Israel's mortal enemy back then. Kukal had to identify and supervise the recovering of the 34 dead American soldiers killed in several Israeli attack waves even though the ship displayed the American Flag.
The Ron Kukal interview is in honor of Nov. 11, Veteran's Day. Veterans who have challenged Israel's lies on this issue have been denounced, typically, as being anti-Semitic and haters. but the truth is they are American soldiers whow ent into the war to defend Israel and to help Israel, only to be abused, murdered and mistreated by Israel and later by Sen. John McCain's father, Admiral McCain who helped in the coverup of the Israeli intentional assault.
Wednesday, we again lightened up with a fascinating interview with Jason LaBrousse, a tour guide for the Chicago Trolley service downtown, taking Chicago downtown history and trivia.
And, we interviewed American Soldier Daniel J. Turner who is serving in Taji Iraq. That was followed by an eye-opener interview with Cook County Board Commission Mike Quigley who talked about how some county commissioners are abusing the "reimbursement" fund of $1,200 a month they each receive, treating it, possibly illegally, as income.
Today, I interviewed the Rev. Johnny Dodd who hosts a morning gospel program Mon-Thursday before my own morning show.
This was a special day as Mornings with Ray Hanania is now broadcast in live video and audio format on the internet. You can hear and watch the radio show by visiting www.RadioChicagoland.com. You don't have to do anything, just go to the web page and the broadcast starts automatically (when the show is being broadcast on the radio) right on the page.
As you know, we also podcast the audio files and you can use the Flash iPod player on the web site to review and then pick from every interview and play the audio file right from the web page without ever leaving. And, you can check out the list of individual interviews I have hosted since starting back in radio in September 2007.
I also interviewed Ray Long, who is celebrating his 10th year as the Chicago Tribune's Springfield bureau correspondent, talking about the ongoing battle between House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Gov. Rod Blagojevich, and other issues like Casino gaming and the state's deteriorating economy.
I also have a podcast reminiscing about covering former Chicago Mayor Jane. M. Byrne and talking about my friend the late Harry Golden Junior.
And, we end with an interview with Google's Jake Parrillo, a former trustee from Frankfort, Illinois, who is now living in Elmhurst and running the draft Tom Cross for Governor web blog at www.ItsTimeforTom.com. Cross is the Republican House Minority Leader in the Illinois Senate.
Today's show (Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008) was broadcast live on Internevt video and despite some initial minor complications involving some initial sound loss in the very beginning from our caller Ray Long, the show went off well. (The entire Ray Long interview is podcast on my web site at www.RadioChicagoland.com.)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Lipinski urges passage of Economic Recovery Package
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason Tai
November 10, 2008
Brian Oszakiewski
REP. Lipinski Calls on Congress and President Bush to pass Economic Recovery Package with infrastructure investments
[Washington, D.C.] Today Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03), a member of the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement urging President Bush and Members of Congress to put aside partisan differences and swiftly pass an economic recovery package that creates new job opportunities through investment in critical infrastructure projects:
“America faces very difficult economic times; middle class families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet with many suffering terrible hardships. More than 1.2 million jobs have been lost over the past year, including 240,000 last month. In Cook County, the unemployment rate has soared above the national average to 6.8 percent and the number of people looking for work in Illinois has approached 500,000.
“At the same time, it is estimated that the United States is in need of a $1.6 trillion investment in the next five years to replace or restore old infrastructure. From aging highways and bridges, to antiquated railroads and water infrastructure, to inadequate mass transit alternatives and airport capacity, the needs are many and the current amount of investment is seriously lacking.
“Investment in transportation and infrastructure boosts our future economic growth, ensures our competitiveness in the world, and improves the quality of life in our communities. It means jobs, time, and money, and it is directly linked to our future. In Illinois – America’s transportation hub – our nation’s infrastructure needs are especially great.
“That is why for the past year I have made the case that an economic recovery package should include investments in public infrastructure and mass transit. Investment in infrastructure is a win-win for all Americans—funding is spent on projects that are desperately needed and good-paying jobs are created that cannot be exported to places like China. In fact, every $1 billion invested in American infrastructure creates and supports 47,500 American jobs.
“In September my calls for an infrastructure spending bill were heeded by the House of Representatives with the passage of H.R. 7110, the Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008. This legislation would provide $61 billion to help restore the economy, including $30 billion for investment in infrastructure and mass transit. I would have preferred a much larger infrastructure investment – especially in light of the willingness of Congress and the President to provide $700 billion for the financial industry bailout – but this was a good start. Especially important in this bill was the provision that a local match to federal dollars would not be needed, allowing projects to move forward immediately regardless of a state’s budgetary issues or the political climate. I fought hard for this provision because it is critical for the state of Illinois.
--Continued--
“For Illinois, H.R. 7110 would invest an additional $436.8 million for highway infrastructure, $271.6 million to expand accessibility to mass transit, and $290.3 million for sewer and water treatment projects over the next year. Unfortunately, the White House threatened to veto H.R. 7110 and Senate Republicans blocked movement of the bill prior to the September congressional adjournment.
“Next week, Members of Congress will return to Washington to begin administrative and legislative planning for the 111th Congress beginning in January. The economic news has only gotten worse in the past two months since H.R. 7110 was passed by the House, increasing the need for an economic recovery bill. Now that the presidential election is over, we have the critical opportunity to put politics aside and thoughtfully work together to put people back to work and invest in our long-term economic future and well being.
“Congress must come back into legislative session and pass an economic recovery package that includes spending on infrastructure and transit. The infrastructure and transit investment must be at least the $30 billion provided in H.R. 7110, but it should be even more. Once Congress passes this legislation, President Bush must sign it into law.
“Since I was first elected to Congress I have made the needs of middle class Americans my top priority. There is much work that must be done and we have a great opportunity to do it in the next Congress. But we must start putting middle class Americans back to work immediately. We need to pass an infrastructure investment stimulus bill, and we need to do it now. I look forward to working with President Bush and my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to pass an infrastructure spending package this year. We can’t afford to wait.”
###
Brian Freedman
Legislative Correspondent
Office of Congressman Dan Lipinski
1717 Longworth H.O.B
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5701
Fax (202) 225-1012
Please sign up for E-News updates at www.lipinski.house.gov
Contact: Jason Tai
November 10, 2008
Brian Oszakiewski
REP. Lipinski Calls on Congress and President Bush to pass Economic Recovery Package with infrastructure investments
[Washington, D.C.] Today Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03), a member of the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement urging President Bush and Members of Congress to put aside partisan differences and swiftly pass an economic recovery package that creates new job opportunities through investment in critical infrastructure projects:
“America faces very difficult economic times; middle class families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet with many suffering terrible hardships. More than 1.2 million jobs have been lost over the past year, including 240,000 last month. In Cook County, the unemployment rate has soared above the national average to 6.8 percent and the number of people looking for work in Illinois has approached 500,000.
“At the same time, it is estimated that the United States is in need of a $1.6 trillion investment in the next five years to replace or restore old infrastructure. From aging highways and bridges, to antiquated railroads and water infrastructure, to inadequate mass transit alternatives and airport capacity, the needs are many and the current amount of investment is seriously lacking.
“Investment in transportation and infrastructure boosts our future economic growth, ensures our competitiveness in the world, and improves the quality of life in our communities. It means jobs, time, and money, and it is directly linked to our future. In Illinois – America’s transportation hub – our nation’s infrastructure needs are especially great.
“That is why for the past year I have made the case that an economic recovery package should include investments in public infrastructure and mass transit. Investment in infrastructure is a win-win for all Americans—funding is spent on projects that are desperately needed and good-paying jobs are created that cannot be exported to places like China. In fact, every $1 billion invested in American infrastructure creates and supports 47,500 American jobs.
“In September my calls for an infrastructure spending bill were heeded by the House of Representatives with the passage of H.R. 7110, the Job Creation and Unemployment Relief Act of 2008. This legislation would provide $61 billion to help restore the economy, including $30 billion for investment in infrastructure and mass transit. I would have preferred a much larger infrastructure investment – especially in light of the willingness of Congress and the President to provide $700 billion for the financial industry bailout – but this was a good start. Especially important in this bill was the provision that a local match to federal dollars would not be needed, allowing projects to move forward immediately regardless of a state’s budgetary issues or the political climate. I fought hard for this provision because it is critical for the state of Illinois.
--Continued--
“For Illinois, H.R. 7110 would invest an additional $436.8 million for highway infrastructure, $271.6 million to expand accessibility to mass transit, and $290.3 million for sewer and water treatment projects over the next year. Unfortunately, the White House threatened to veto H.R. 7110 and Senate Republicans blocked movement of the bill prior to the September congressional adjournment.
“Next week, Members of Congress will return to Washington to begin administrative and legislative planning for the 111th Congress beginning in January. The economic news has only gotten worse in the past two months since H.R. 7110 was passed by the House, increasing the need for an economic recovery bill. Now that the presidential election is over, we have the critical opportunity to put politics aside and thoughtfully work together to put people back to work and invest in our long-term economic future and well being.
“Congress must come back into legislative session and pass an economic recovery package that includes spending on infrastructure and transit. The infrastructure and transit investment must be at least the $30 billion provided in H.R. 7110, but it should be even more. Once Congress passes this legislation, President Bush must sign it into law.
“Since I was first elected to Congress I have made the needs of middle class Americans my top priority. There is much work that must be done and we have a great opportunity to do it in the next Congress. But we must start putting middle class Americans back to work immediately. We need to pass an infrastructure investment stimulus bill, and we need to do it now. I look forward to working with President Bush and my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to pass an infrastructure spending package this year. We can’t afford to wait.”
###
Brian Freedman
Legislative Correspondent
Office of Congressman Dan Lipinski
1717 Longworth H.O.B
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5701
Fax (202) 225-1012
Please sign up for E-News updates at www.lipinski.house.gov
Inundated with letters and thanks ...
I am humbled by how many people now read this blog in Orland Park and by all the email letters I am receiving. Thank you.
I try to reply to every email. I know that Orland Park is run by a vindictive dictator so I am careful when I do post a letter I will not post your name to protect you from Mayor McLaughlin's wrath. The guy is just mean.
But clearly, from the emails from within the and from the employees, there is a LOT of dissastifaction in Camelot.
Residents are upset about the rising fees, and the taxes, and the mayor's broken promise on the tax rebate. You should be. You deserve better.
If Orland Park is going to be the great town all the fluff and PR claims it already is, the mayor will have to do a better job of managing the excess waste in government and trim the fat, starting with his office.
It is amazing how the Mayor is responding directly to this little blog by pushing fluff press releases in the local newspapers that talk about how great he is and how great his programs are and how great everything he does is.
Congratulations Your Greatness!
-- Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/
Also, sign up for my new newsletter for my radio show, columns and blogs. Go to
http://www.TheMediaOasis.com/tv/Newsletter.htm
I try to reply to every email. I know that Orland Park is run by a vindictive dictator so I am careful when I do post a letter I will not post your name to protect you from Mayor McLaughlin's wrath. The guy is just mean.
But clearly, from the emails from within the and from the employees, there is a LOT of dissastifaction in Camelot.
Residents are upset about the rising fees, and the taxes, and the mayor's broken promise on the tax rebate. You should be. You deserve better.
If Orland Park is going to be the great town all the fluff and PR claims it already is, the mayor will have to do a better job of managing the excess waste in government and trim the fat, starting with his office.
It is amazing how the Mayor is responding directly to this little blog by pushing fluff press releases in the local newspapers that talk about how great he is and how great his programs are and how great everything he does is.
Congratulations Your Greatness!
-- Ray Hanania
http://www.orlandparker.com/
Also, sign up for my new newsletter for my radio show, columns and blogs. Go to
http://www.TheMediaOasis.com/tv/Newsletter.htm
Keeping up with the technology and the letters ...
I get so many emails but I do my best to answer everyone of them. I appreciate your writing and sharing your views. I will try to regularly post the best on the blog to share. Make sure to let me know if you do not want to share a view, although I leave out last names.
My new newsletter went out this week. Better design but complicated and difficult to use -- Constant Contact is not all it is cracked up to be. It's amazing how difficult some software companies make their product. Theya re written by geeks and never use the system in practical ways, so the systems often lack the fundamentals that are most wanted by the public. Theys hould hire normal people to test these systems out and make the changes to make the programs better.
Still, my biggest challenge is proofing the newsletter before it goes out. Some typos get in and I HATE typos ... but, what can you do?
Never let a typo trip you up from a great idea or thought. But I'll do my best to nail and then correct them.
I'm only going to send the newsletter out once each week. I'll update the web site with new guests and changes. State Sen. Mike Jacobs will be joining the show today to talk about possibly running for governor. And Thursday's guest looks like it's going to be Ray Long, the veteran Springfield correspondent now with the Chicago Tribune.
Anyway, I also lightened up a bit this week with interviews of guests from the theater and also some book authors. Not all politics. But politics is important.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
My new newsletter went out this week. Better design but complicated and difficult to use -- Constant Contact is not all it is cracked up to be. It's amazing how difficult some software companies make their product. Theya re written by geeks and never use the system in practical ways, so the systems often lack the fundamentals that are most wanted by the public. Theys hould hire normal people to test these systems out and make the changes to make the programs better.
Still, my biggest challenge is proofing the newsletter before it goes out. Some typos get in and I HATE typos ... but, what can you do?
Never let a typo trip you up from a great idea or thought. But I'll do my best to nail and then correct them.
I'm only going to send the newsletter out once each week. I'll update the web site with new guests and changes. State Sen. Mike Jacobs will be joining the show today to talk about possibly running for governor. And Thursday's guest looks like it's going to be Ray Long, the veteran Springfield correspondent now with the Chicago Tribune.
Anyway, I also lightened up a bit this week with interviews of guests from the theater and also some book authors. Not all politics. But politics is important.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Letters to the Editor: On the huffingtonPost column on Obama MidEast Peace, and on the USS Liberty murders
ON BARACK OBAMA, HIS APPOINTMENT'S AND HOPES FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ray-hanania/obamas-growing-pro-israel_b_141964.html
Dear Mr. Hanania,
I just want to thank you so very much for your article, "Obama's Growing Pro-Israel Cabinet Should Not Worry Allies of Just Peace." I know President Obama and First Lady Obama are surely the smartest people in the White House certainly in decades, probably centuries, and perhaps ever -- and at a time when we need it most. So I trust them. Even so, I really found your logic extremely helpful in showing the wisdom of these choices, which can look so "un-change" or change resistant. It looks as if he's surrounding himself with so many of the old, white, Beltway, male guard (and I'm white). I voted for him and worked for his election here in Minnesota precisely to get a different experience in the White House and leading the country and world. So what you wrote and the fact that you wrote it as a Palestinian is really, really valuable for me -- so very helpful. I will watch for your articles as we go along with this incredible new era.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Denise
Dear Ray
I just read your column on Huffpost and was rather heartened by it. I am British but have been living in the US on & off for nearly 10 years. I was delighted by Obama's victory, but I must admit I was quite disheartened when I discovered on another blog last night that Rahm Emmanuel has very close connections with Israel & pro-Israel groups. Although I follow American politics to some extent I hadn't known anything about him before. I hope you're right, and I think you are, that he is a very different creature from the awful Jewish neocons who to some extent shaped Bush policy (Perle, Frum & the rest). Personally I would like to see the US put more pressure on Israel to remove the settlements & work towards a peace that would be at least reasonably fair & durable even if not entirely just (that's probably not possible).
Your strong faith that Obama's heart is in the right place with respect to the Israel/Palestine problem, is very reassuring. Some of the bloggers commenting on your column were much more cynical. I tend to be a bit sceptical about what Obama can achieve, much as I admire his charisma & intelligence. So, despite the cynics & sceptics, let's hope you are right. Anyway, thanks for a very useful column.
Geoff C
For the record, I'm Jewish, I'm pro-Israel, and I agree with you.From a purely pro-Israel point of view I want a just settlement in the middle east. First because Jewish ethics do not allow any Jew to condone the plight of the Palestinians. And second because there are just so many times Israel can win a war against its neighbors. Unfortunately, you are correct in your fear of Benjamin Netanyahu. He is crazy. Unlike Sharon, he is neither able to see the big picture nor listen to anyone who does not agree with him. If he is elected batten down for further struggle.The most important thing Arabs could do to promote the type of just peace you support would be to say they supported peace -- in Arabic, on the Arab street. Netanyahu loves Hamas and Hezbulla because they give him a raison d'etre. Every time someone in the Arab world (and most Israelis understand that Iran is not Arab) threatens to destroy Israel, Netanyahu wins support. When someone talks about a just peace in Arabic, it wins support for Livni and the Peace Now community which the war in Lebanon has almost destroyed.Keep up the just struggle!By the way.
I do have one picayune quibble about your article. You began by saying, "Like all Arab Americans, I was disturbed when Barack Obama selected U.S. Senator Joseph Biden as his running mate." I agree that many were concerned, but not all. Because I live in Canada I do not know many Arab Americans, but I do know a lot of Arab Canadians, and I doubt they are all that different from there southern counterparts. Just as there are lots of Jews who support Hamas and the PLO, there are Arabs who support Israel, and even Isrrael's right wing. Perhaps both groups are fanatics, but they serve a valuable purpose by reminding others that this dispute is not really just about religion or ethnicity.
Sincerely,
Robert K
Dear Ray,
A cousin of mine, Jeff Baloutine, just forwarded your latest piece on the Obama emerging cabinet. I, too, was worried, at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I came into your line of thinking, one you explain with excellent detail in contrasting what Obama is arming himself with vs. the nuts Bush had in his tree.
I think you are right. You leverage a stubborn root with a shovel whose handle is made from the same wood.
As thanks, I'll send you a link for a long piece, "Obama and the Middle East" I just published in the Antioch Review in Ohio.
http://www18.georgetown.edu/data/people/gmo4/publication-37377.pdf.
Cheers,
Greg O.
ON THE USS LIBERTY ATTACK AND SEN. JOHN MCCAIN"S RESPONSIBILITY"
http://www.arabisto.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogEntryID=1318
Great article about senator McCain and killing of liberty.
WALID M.
Editor: I thank Ray Hanania for a great column on the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty in 1967. The government wants us to forget parts of our history, in which some of our sons died in the hands of some of our "allies." This has been hidden and covered up for years and years. It is time to know the truth.
Mahmood M
Temperance, Michigan
Dear Hater:
Stop supporting bin laden and hamas. Stop supporting stoning of rape victims, strapping bombs to babies, non education of women and honor killings and people won't have a problem with you.
You have made it clear you support killing all jews by your support of Holocaust deniers and the leader of Iran who is Osama Bin Laden's closest friend, a child molester and leader of the 1979 taking of the american embassy.
you want all jews dead. You have made it perfectly clear.
The difference between you and civilized people is best exampled in what you'd do if your daughter came down in the morning wearing something inappropriate. to you anything short of a head to toe burqa is in appropriate of course.
Civilized people tell her to go up and change her clothes.
you take her upstairs rape her and chop off her head.
If someone like you has a child (by rape of course) you hold that child and say "My greatest hope is someday you'll blow up a schoolbus full of jewish preschoolers"
Civilized people want their children to grow up to be lawyers, doctors or maybe the starting QB for the Chicago Bears.
I do not hate all muslims. I hate terrorists and anyone who supports them by supporting Palestinians and Holocaust denial.
UNSIGNED
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Your article (and underlying point) was excellent. I lived through the
period in question, was aghast at the obvious cover-up, and have many
friends in the Navy who consider the ship and her crew's heroic resistance a
legend. Would that this episode with its heroism and villainy was better
known. Then we might also better discern what real support for the troops
is all about.
Regards,
Frank P
Ray,
Good job on the article the truth will over come the lies I was on C Span after the debate last night until they cut me off say the word USS Liberty and you are gone.
Thanks for keeping the story alive. Phil
Thank you Ray for the article that included the USS Liberty in its
body. As a survivor and the officer in charge of the body recovery
and identification I would love to see an investigation happen. I do
have some interesting information for you from my own senator. I will send in a separate email.
Ron K
Sheridan, Wyoming
Have been listening to your programs on the USS Liberty attack by Israel, particularly those with my friend, Phil Tourney as a guest. Many thanks to you for helping to publicize this massacre by Israel and the cover-up by two countries of the attack.
Just read your outstanding article on the SW News Herald web page:
http://www.swnewsherald.com/news_inside/2008/10/101708cs_rh_liberty.php
I made a tiny URL of the one above and am passing it around to my friends.
http://tinyurl.com/54y542
McCain's activities and support of A. Jay Cristol's book of lies really ought to be brought to the attention of the public... alas, the mainline media apparently is bought and paid for and congress damned sure won't help.
Thanks again,
John G
(ex-crew member of the Liberty, was
transferred just prior to the attack.)
END
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ray-hanania/obamas-growing-pro-israel_b_141964.html
Dear Mr. Hanania,
I just want to thank you so very much for your article, "Obama's Growing Pro-Israel Cabinet Should Not Worry Allies of Just Peace." I know President Obama and First Lady Obama are surely the smartest people in the White House certainly in decades, probably centuries, and perhaps ever -- and at a time when we need it most. So I trust them. Even so, I really found your logic extremely helpful in showing the wisdom of these choices, which can look so "un-change" or change resistant. It looks as if he's surrounding himself with so many of the old, white, Beltway, male guard (and I'm white). I voted for him and worked for his election here in Minnesota precisely to get a different experience in the White House and leading the country and world. So what you wrote and the fact that you wrote it as a Palestinian is really, really valuable for me -- so very helpful. I will watch for your articles as we go along with this incredible new era.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Denise
Dear Ray
I just read your column on Huffpost and was rather heartened by it. I am British but have been living in the US on & off for nearly 10 years. I was delighted by Obama's victory, but I must admit I was quite disheartened when I discovered on another blog last night that Rahm Emmanuel has very close connections with Israel & pro-Israel groups. Although I follow American politics to some extent I hadn't known anything about him before. I hope you're right, and I think you are, that he is a very different creature from the awful Jewish neocons who to some extent shaped Bush policy (Perle, Frum & the rest). Personally I would like to see the US put more pressure on Israel to remove the settlements & work towards a peace that would be at least reasonably fair & durable even if not entirely just (that's probably not possible).
Your strong faith that Obama's heart is in the right place with respect to the Israel/Palestine problem, is very reassuring. Some of the bloggers commenting on your column were much more cynical. I tend to be a bit sceptical about what Obama can achieve, much as I admire his charisma & intelligence. So, despite the cynics & sceptics, let's hope you are right. Anyway, thanks for a very useful column.
Geoff C
For the record, I'm Jewish, I'm pro-Israel, and I agree with you.From a purely pro-Israel point of view I want a just settlement in the middle east. First because Jewish ethics do not allow any Jew to condone the plight of the Palestinians. And second because there are just so many times Israel can win a war against its neighbors. Unfortunately, you are correct in your fear of Benjamin Netanyahu. He is crazy. Unlike Sharon, he is neither able to see the big picture nor listen to anyone who does not agree with him. If he is elected batten down for further struggle.The most important thing Arabs could do to promote the type of just peace you support would be to say they supported peace -- in Arabic, on the Arab street. Netanyahu loves Hamas and Hezbulla because they give him a raison d'etre. Every time someone in the Arab world (and most Israelis understand that Iran is not Arab) threatens to destroy Israel, Netanyahu wins support. When someone talks about a just peace in Arabic, it wins support for Livni and the Peace Now community which the war in Lebanon has almost destroyed.Keep up the just struggle!By the way.
I do have one picayune quibble about your article. You began by saying, "Like all Arab Americans, I was disturbed when Barack Obama selected U.S. Senator Joseph Biden as his running mate." I agree that many were concerned, but not all. Because I live in Canada I do not know many Arab Americans, but I do know a lot of Arab Canadians, and I doubt they are all that different from there southern counterparts. Just as there are lots of Jews who support Hamas and the PLO, there are Arabs who support Israel, and even Isrrael's right wing. Perhaps both groups are fanatics, but they serve a valuable purpose by reminding others that this dispute is not really just about religion or ethnicity.
Sincerely,
Robert K
Dear Ray,
A cousin of mine, Jeff Baloutine, just forwarded your latest piece on the Obama emerging cabinet. I, too, was worried, at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I came into your line of thinking, one you explain with excellent detail in contrasting what Obama is arming himself with vs. the nuts Bush had in his tree.
I think you are right. You leverage a stubborn root with a shovel whose handle is made from the same wood.
As thanks, I'll send you a link for a long piece, "Obama and the Middle East" I just published in the Antioch Review in Ohio.
http://www18.georgetown.edu/data/people/gmo4/publication-37377.pdf.
Cheers,
Greg O.
ON THE USS LIBERTY ATTACK AND SEN. JOHN MCCAIN"S RESPONSIBILITY"
http://www.arabisto.com/p_blogEntry.cfm?blogEntryID=1318
Great article about senator McCain and killing of liberty.
WALID M.
Editor: I thank Ray Hanania for a great column on the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty in 1967. The government wants us to forget parts of our history, in which some of our sons died in the hands of some of our "allies." This has been hidden and covered up for years and years. It is time to know the truth.
Mahmood M
Temperance, Michigan
Dear Hater:
Stop supporting bin laden and hamas. Stop supporting stoning of rape victims, strapping bombs to babies, non education of women and honor killings and people won't have a problem with you.
You have made it clear you support killing all jews by your support of Holocaust deniers and the leader of Iran who is Osama Bin Laden's closest friend, a child molester and leader of the 1979 taking of the american embassy.
you want all jews dead. You have made it perfectly clear.
The difference between you and civilized people is best exampled in what you'd do if your daughter came down in the morning wearing something inappropriate. to you anything short of a head to toe burqa is in appropriate of course.
Civilized people tell her to go up and change her clothes.
you take her upstairs rape her and chop off her head.
If someone like you has a child (by rape of course) you hold that child and say "My greatest hope is someday you'll blow up a schoolbus full of jewish preschoolers"
Civilized people want their children to grow up to be lawyers, doctors or maybe the starting QB for the Chicago Bears.
I do not hate all muslims. I hate terrorists and anyone who supports them by supporting Palestinians and Holocaust denial.
UNSIGNED
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE
Your article (and underlying point) was excellent. I lived through the
period in question, was aghast at the obvious cover-up, and have many
friends in the Navy who consider the ship and her crew's heroic resistance a
legend. Would that this episode with its heroism and villainy was better
known. Then we might also better discern what real support for the troops
is all about.
Regards,
Frank P
Ray,
Good job on the article the truth will over come the lies I was on C Span after the debate last night until they cut me off say the word USS Liberty and you are gone.
Thanks for keeping the story alive. Phil
Thank you Ray for the article that included the USS Liberty in its
body. As a survivor and the officer in charge of the body recovery
and identification I would love to see an investigation happen. I do
have some interesting information for you from my own senator. I will send in a separate email.
Ron K
Sheridan, Wyoming
Have been listening to your programs on the USS Liberty attack by Israel, particularly those with my friend, Phil Tourney as a guest. Many thanks to you for helping to publicize this massacre by Israel and the cover-up by two countries of the attack.
Just read your outstanding article on the SW News Herald web page:
http://www.swnewsherald.com/news_inside/2008/10/101708cs_rh_liberty.php
I made a tiny URL of the one above and am passing it around to my friends.
http://tinyurl.com/54y542
McCain's activities and support of A. Jay Cristol's book of lies really ought to be brought to the attention of the public... alas, the mainline media apparently is bought and paid for and congress damned sure won't help.
Thanks again,
John G
(ex-crew member of the Liberty, was
transferred just prior to the attack.)
END
Friday, November 7, 2008
Running for local office -- How to do it right
1 -- Hire an attorney. There is a good chance the incumbents are going to challenge your petitions for office and you will end up spending money later when the local office holders challenge you to kick you off the ballot. A lawyer can help you from square one to prevent that.
2 -- You must file a committee if you raise or spend $3,000 on your campaign ...
3 -- You also need to start the process NOW ... don't wait until it's too late or the elected officials start talking about the election. In most cases, the elected officials don't want you to know and hope you miss the filing deadlines so you can't run. Or, they hope you will rush to run at the last minute making a mistake that they can challenge.
Start now, go to our election help web page linked on www.RadioChicagoland.com
Call our election law specialist Dennis Brenna and visit his web site at www.DennisBrennanLaw.com
-- Ray Hanania
www.radiochicagoland.com
www.OrlandParker.com
2 -- You must file a committee if you raise or spend $3,000 on your campaign ...
3 -- You also need to start the process NOW ... don't wait until it's too late or the elected officials start talking about the election. In most cases, the elected officials don't want you to know and hope you miss the filing deadlines so you can't run. Or, they hope you will rush to run at the last minute making a mistake that they can challenge.
Start now, go to our election help web page linked on www.RadioChicagoland.com
Call our election law specialist Dennis Brenna and visit his web site at www.DennisBrennanLaw.com
-- Ray Hanania
www.radiochicagoland.com
www.OrlandParker.com
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Fun watching FOX Network News holding Shiva for McCain and the GOP
Fun watching the FOX Network News anchors trying their best to keep up a strong front as the GOP Titanic starts to sink and crack in half. It may not go all the way down, but it will float like flotsam and jetsam wreckage.
Brit Hume looks particularly pathetic. You could almost feel sorry for him if you were suffering from alzheimers and didn't remember his years of hatemongering and demagoguery.
And it will be fun to hear Sean Hannity explain the election results. Talk about a loser squirming.
Are they stuttering?
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Brit Hume looks particularly pathetic. You could almost feel sorry for him if you were suffering from alzheimers and didn't remember his years of hatemongering and demagoguery.
And it will be fun to hear Sean Hannity explain the election results. Talk about a loser squirming.
Are they stuttering?
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Chicago's free trolley service will come to an end
One of the great things about Chicago was the trolley system. You could get on downtown and ride to Navy Pier, where you could be insulted by employees at Navy Pier's many concession stands. But the paid trolleys will continue and although they are expensive, it was well worth the time and money to ride.
Sunday, I took my son downtown where I did an interview with Canada's CBC TV. Afterwards, we wandered around to Michigan Avenue and decided to grab one of those double decker buses. The one we picked was the Chicago trollye double decker service. The service makes about 13 stops throughout the downtown region using the double decker buses or the single deck trolleys. The cost was $29 for adults and I think $17 for children. (My son is 7.) Still, for $46, I figured, he would enjoy it and enjoy it he did. It was great. The drivers are well-informed about the city's history. I had forgotten much of the trivia about the city, like Michigan Avenue had once been a gravel street lined by posh homes that was designed to be a major shopping center. Michigan Avenue was rebuilt to specifically look like the Champs e lyse in Paris. It ended on the south end at the Chicago River.
Wolf Point, the intersection where the Chicago river divides into two legs of the river, is one of the city's most recognized symbols.
And, why do they bother to dye the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day when the Chicago River is already green?
It was a great trip. We got off at Navy Pier to eat. You can get on and off the trollers and the double decker bus at each stop and hop back on another trolley or doubledecker bus that comes by later. They run about 15 minutes to 20 minutes apart. Every other one is a trolley and a double decker bus. Sunday was warm so we sat ont he upper deck.
Grant Park has a prohibition to prevent any buildings there not because it was intended to preserve the park for the benefit of the public, but because the owner of one of the major stores -- was it Fields? -- didn't want a competitor to open a shop there and got the city to pass the law.
It went on and on, far better than I can do. (Although every May I lead four tours for the City (free as a volunteer) of Arab Chicago, based on my book "Arabs of Chicagoland" -- which is available at all major book stores including Borders and Barnes and Noble. (Ding. Ding. Ding. -- A plug for myself.)
At Navy Pier, though, we went to America's Dog where I bought some Chicago hot dogs -- no one puts ketchup on a Chicago dog, I was reminded during the tour. And Gyros is not a Greek invention but an invention of Greek Americans in Chicago. Created right here by Greek immigrants. (In Arabic, it is called a shawerma sandwich and they were invented in the Middle East and copied by Greek immigrants, renamed and sold in Chicago -- that's the real history but people hate Arabs so much we don't get any credit.) -- (By the way, November is Arab American Heritage Month but you wouldn't know it from the absence of any mention of it in the Chicago media -- further proof that the mainstream media is biased, bigoted and racist. But I digress.)
Anyway, when we went to get the hot dog order, the clerk at the concession hit the Sprite my son ordered an dspilled some of it. He just grabbed the top, slapped it back on and they swore using the F-word. In front of my 7 year old. he didn't care, of course. He was joking around with a female co-worker. I told him to keep the Sprite and I bought my son a drink someplace else. but I doubt I'll ever go back to America's Dog again, considering they have no class.
Really, the f-word in public? Pathetic.
The three hotdogs cost me $18 anyway. So it wasn't worth it.
Next week, I'll have a Chicago trolley guide on my radio show talking about Chicago's great history. No politics. Just trivia.
Despite the bad experience at Navy Pier -- maybe they should move the Children's Museum to Grant Park just to get away from the x-rated language at America's Dog -- I highly recommend the Chicago trolley tour. It's costly but it is well worth the time.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Sunday, I took my son downtown where I did an interview with Canada's CBC TV. Afterwards, we wandered around to Michigan Avenue and decided to grab one of those double decker buses. The one we picked was the Chicago trollye double decker service. The service makes about 13 stops throughout the downtown region using the double decker buses or the single deck trolleys. The cost was $29 for adults and I think $17 for children. (My son is 7.) Still, for $46, I figured, he would enjoy it and enjoy it he did. It was great. The drivers are well-informed about the city's history. I had forgotten much of the trivia about the city, like Michigan Avenue had once been a gravel street lined by posh homes that was designed to be a major shopping center. Michigan Avenue was rebuilt to specifically look like the Champs e lyse in Paris. It ended on the south end at the Chicago River.
Wolf Point, the intersection where the Chicago river divides into two legs of the river, is one of the city's most recognized symbols.
And, why do they bother to dye the Chicago River green on St. Patrick's Day when the Chicago River is already green?
It was a great trip. We got off at Navy Pier to eat. You can get on and off the trollers and the double decker bus at each stop and hop back on another trolley or doubledecker bus that comes by later. They run about 15 minutes to 20 minutes apart. Every other one is a trolley and a double decker bus. Sunday was warm so we sat ont he upper deck.
Grant Park has a prohibition to prevent any buildings there not because it was intended to preserve the park for the benefit of the public, but because the owner of one of the major stores -- was it Fields? -- didn't want a competitor to open a shop there and got the city to pass the law.
It went on and on, far better than I can do. (Although every May I lead four tours for the City (free as a volunteer) of Arab Chicago, based on my book "Arabs of Chicagoland" -- which is available at all major book stores including Borders and Barnes and Noble. (Ding. Ding. Ding. -- A plug for myself.)
At Navy Pier, though, we went to America's Dog where I bought some Chicago hot dogs -- no one puts ketchup on a Chicago dog, I was reminded during the tour. And Gyros is not a Greek invention but an invention of Greek Americans in Chicago. Created right here by Greek immigrants. (In Arabic, it is called a shawerma sandwich and they were invented in the Middle East and copied by Greek immigrants, renamed and sold in Chicago -- that's the real history but people hate Arabs so much we don't get any credit.) -- (By the way, November is Arab American Heritage Month but you wouldn't know it from the absence of any mention of it in the Chicago media -- further proof that the mainstream media is biased, bigoted and racist. But I digress.)
Anyway, when we went to get the hot dog order, the clerk at the concession hit the Sprite my son ordered an dspilled some of it. He just grabbed the top, slapped it back on and they swore using the F-word. In front of my 7 year old. he didn't care, of course. He was joking around with a female co-worker. I told him to keep the Sprite and I bought my son a drink someplace else. but I doubt I'll ever go back to America's Dog again, considering they have no class.
Really, the f-word in public? Pathetic.
The three hotdogs cost me $18 anyway. So it wasn't worth it.
Next week, I'll have a Chicago trolley guide on my radio show talking about Chicago's great history. No politics. Just trivia.
Despite the bad experience at Navy Pier -- maybe they should move the Children's Museum to Grant Park just to get away from the x-rated language at America's Dog -- I highly recommend the Chicago trolley tour. It's costly but it is well worth the time.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Andy Shaw close, but ...
WLS TV's Andy Shaw reported tonight that David Axelrod was probably playing basketball with Barack Obama tonight waiting for the election results ... close Andy -- weren't you the guy who once said Ed Vrdolyak would never be convicted? You were close. He wasn't convicted. He pled guilty to a kickback scheme today.
Actually, I stopped at Manny's Deli on Roosevelt Road after being turned away from the celebration for Barack Obama at Grant Park. And while chomping on a corned beef sandwich, potato latke and bowl of matzo ball soup, who do you think came up and said hello? David Axelrod. Axelrod, one of the real stars behind the rise of Barack Obama, was sitting with political consultant colleagues awaiting the results coming in. Axelrod and I covered Chicago City Hall together. He worked for the Chicago Tribune, before moving on to launch his very successful political consulting firm.
Congratulations to Axelrod. He deserves the accolades for managing the Obama campaign. There's no question that Obama's very successful efforts are the direct result of Axelrod's guidance.
As for Vrdolyak -- he once vowed during the Cicero battle in 1996 "I'll bury that Hanania" when he was manipulating the greedy Betty Loren-Maltese. When Maltese was accused of corruption, and she refused to answer my questions about the subpoenas, I quit/she fired me ... and she went on to jail, thanks to Vrdolyak's manipulation of the town. Who buried who Ed? Vrdolyak was one of the smartest politicians in Chicagoland history, but also one of the sleaziest. Sources say there were some terrible FBI recordings of him bragging about things that were extremely embarassing to his family. If it's true, it's out of his character to do the right thing! but he did.
-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/
Actually, I stopped at Manny's Deli on Roosevelt Road after being turned away from the celebration for Barack Obama at Grant Park. And while chomping on a corned beef sandwich, potato latke and bowl of matzo ball soup, who do you think came up and said hello? David Axelrod. Axelrod, one of the real stars behind the rise of Barack Obama, was sitting with political consultant colleagues awaiting the results coming in. Axelrod and I covered Chicago City Hall together. He worked for the Chicago Tribune, before moving on to launch his very successful political consulting firm.
Congratulations to Axelrod. He deserves the accolades for managing the Obama campaign. There's no question that Obama's very successful efforts are the direct result of Axelrod's guidance.
As for Vrdolyak -- he once vowed during the Cicero battle in 1996 "I'll bury that Hanania" when he was manipulating the greedy Betty Loren-Maltese. When Maltese was accused of corruption, and she refused to answer my questions about the subpoenas, I quit/she fired me ... and she went on to jail, thanks to Vrdolyak's manipulation of the town. Who buried who Ed? Vrdolyak was one of the smartest politicians in Chicagoland history, but also one of the sleaziest. Sources say there were some terrible FBI recordings of him bragging about things that were extremely embarassing to his family. If it's true, it's out of his character to do the right thing! but he did.
-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/
Andy Shaw close, but ...
WLS TV's Andy Shaw reported tonight that David Axelrod was probably playing basketball with Barack Obama tonight waiting for the election results ... close Andy -- weren't you the guy who once said Ed Vrdolyak would never be convicted? You were close. He wasn't convicted. He pled guilty to a kickback scheme today.
Actually, I stopped at Manny's Deli on Roosevelt Road after being turned away from the celebration for Barack Obama at Grant Park. And while chomping on a corned beef sandwich, potato latke and bowl of matzo ball soup, who do you think came up and said hello. David Axelrod. Axelrod, one of the real stars behind the rise of Barack Obama, was sitting with political consultant colleagues awaiting the results coming in. Axelrod and I covered Chicago City Hall together. He worked for the Chicago Tribune, before moving on to launch his very successful political consulting firm.
Congratulations to Axelrod. He deserves the accolades for managing the Obama campaign. There's no question that Obama's very successful efforts are the direct result of Axelrod's guidance.
As for Vrdolyak -- he once vowed during the Cicero battle in 1996 "I'll bury that Hanania" when he was manipulating the greedy Betty Loren-Maltese. When Maltese was accused of corruption, and she refused to answer my questions about the subpoenas, I quit/she fired me ... and she went on to jail, thanks to Vrdolyak's manipulation of the town. Who buried who Ed? Vrdolyak was one of the smartest politicians in Chicagoland history, but also one of the sleaziest. Sources say there were some terrible FBI recordings of him bragging about things that were extremely embarassing to his family. If it's true, it's out of his character to do the right thing! But he did.
-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/
Actually, I stopped at Manny's Deli on Roosevelt Road after being turned away from the celebration for Barack Obama at Grant Park. And while chomping on a corned beef sandwich, potato latke and bowl of matzo ball soup, who do you think came up and said hello. David Axelrod. Axelrod, one of the real stars behind the rise of Barack Obama, was sitting with political consultant colleagues awaiting the results coming in. Axelrod and I covered Chicago City Hall together. He worked for the Chicago Tribune, before moving on to launch his very successful political consulting firm.
Congratulations to Axelrod. He deserves the accolades for managing the Obama campaign. There's no question that Obama's very successful efforts are the direct result of Axelrod's guidance.
As for Vrdolyak -- he once vowed during the Cicero battle in 1996 "I'll bury that Hanania" when he was manipulating the greedy Betty Loren-Maltese. When Maltese was accused of corruption, and she refused to answer my questions about the subpoenas, I quit/she fired me ... and she went on to jail, thanks to Vrdolyak's manipulation of the town. Who buried who Ed? Vrdolyak was one of the smartest politicians in Chicagoland history, but also one of the sleaziest. Sources say there were some terrible FBI recordings of him bragging about things that were extremely embarassing to his family. If it's true, it's out of his character to do the right thing! But he did.
-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/
Monday, November 3, 2008
Suspect wanted in slaying of Rana Ishmail in Bridgeview
You can get information and photographs on the suspect wanted by the Bridgeview police in the murder of the young woman at 87th and Harlem Saturday by visiting:
Arab America's Most Wanted
or
Arab American Media Services
Information on the funeral services for the victim:
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihy Rajeoun
with deep sorrow, I inform you that the beloved daughter of Hajj AbuTariq Ismail, sister of AAAEA member Engr. Tariq Ismail, and niece of Dr. Mahmoud Ismail of the Aqsa School Board & Univ of Chicago, has tragically passed away yesterday in Bridgeview.
May Allah bless her soul and may Allah grant her family patience.
Condolences (Beit A'zaa) will be as follow:
Tonight, Sunday Nov. 2
At the Community Center (Youth Center) 2nd Floor, 7260 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Tomorrow, Monday Nov. 3
Hann Funeral Home, 8230 S. Harlem Ave, Bridgeview, IL, morning before Thuhr prayer
Janazah prayer after Thuhr prayer at the Mosque Foundation, 7360 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, then will proceed to burial at LaGrange
At the Aqsa School, lower level, 7361 W. 92nd St., Bridgeview, IL, Monday evening.
Tariq may be reached at tismail2000@yahoo.com
Arab America's Most Wanted
or
Arab American Media Services
Information on the funeral services for the victim:
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihy Rajeoun
with deep sorrow, I inform you that the beloved daughter of Hajj AbuTariq Ismail, sister of AAAEA member Engr. Tariq Ismail, and niece of Dr. Mahmoud Ismail of the Aqsa School Board & Univ of Chicago, has tragically passed away yesterday in Bridgeview.
May Allah bless her soul and may Allah grant her family patience.
Condolences (Beit A'zaa) will be as follow:
Tonight, Sunday Nov. 2
At the Community Center (Youth Center) 2nd Floor, 7260 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Tomorrow, Monday Nov. 3
Hann Funeral Home, 8230 S. Harlem Ave, Bridgeview, IL, morning before Thuhr prayer
Janazah prayer after Thuhr prayer at the Mosque Foundation, 7360 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, then will proceed to burial at LaGrange
At the Aqsa School, lower level, 7361 W. 92nd St., Bridgeview, IL, Monday evening.
Tariq may be reached at tismail2000@yahoo.com
Suspect wanted in slaying of Rana Ismail
You can get information on the suspect wanted by the Bridgeview police in the murder of the young woman at 87th and Harlem Saturday by visiting:
Arab America's Most Wanted
or
Arab American Media Services
Information on the funeral services for the victim:
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihy Rajeoun
with deep sorrow, I inform you that the beloved daughter of Hajj AbuTariq Ismail, sister of AAAEA member Engr. Tariq Ismail, and niece of Dr. Mahmoud Ismail of the Aqsa School Board & Univ of Chicago, has tragically passed away yesterday in Bridgeview.
May Allah bless her soul and may Allah grant her family patience.
Condolences (Beit A'zaa) will be as follow:
Tonight, Sunday Nov. 2
At the Community Center (Youth Center) 2nd Floor, 7260 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Tomorrow, Monday Nov. 3
Hann Funeral Home, 8230 S. Harlem Ave, Bridgeview, IL, morning before Thuhr prayer
Janazah prayer after Thuhr prayer at the Mosque Foundation, 7360 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, then will proceed to burial at LaGrange
At the Aqsa School, lower level, 7361 W. 92nd St., Bridgeview, IL, Monday evening.
Tariq may be reached at tismail2000@yahoo.com
Arab America's Most Wanted
or
Arab American Media Services
Information on the funeral services for the victim:
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihy Rajeoun
with deep sorrow, I inform you that the beloved daughter of Hajj AbuTariq Ismail, sister of AAAEA member Engr. Tariq Ismail, and niece of Dr. Mahmoud Ismail of the Aqsa School Board & Univ of Chicago, has tragically passed away yesterday in Bridgeview.
May Allah bless her soul and may Allah grant her family patience.
Condolences (Beit A'zaa) will be as follow:
Tonight, Sunday Nov. 2
At the Community Center (Youth Center) 2nd Floor, 7260 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Tomorrow, Monday Nov. 3
Hann Funeral Home, 8230 S. Harlem Ave, Bridgeview, IL, morning before Thuhr prayer
Janazah prayer after Thuhr prayer at the Mosque Foundation, 7360 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL, then will proceed to burial at LaGrange
At the Aqsa School, lower level, 7361 W. 92nd St., Bridgeview, IL, Monday evening.
Tariq may be reached at tismail2000@yahoo.com
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Kristen McQueary doing PR for Renee Kosel?
Kristen McQueary, the narrowly-focused hard-hitting writer for the SouthtownStar did a nice hatchet job on Dick Kelly who is running for the 81st house District against incumbent Renee Kosel. (The district is the same one I ran in 16 years ago).
Although I haven't had much contact with Kelly over the years -- and Kosel doesn't talk to "Democrats" -- it seems McQueary's attack against Kelly might be one-sided.
Click here for the link to the story.
Although McQueary picks and chooses who she hammers -- she's no different than most other writers -- she did a nice job of fist-bumping Kosel, the do-nothing Republican incumbent who has held the legislative seat for the past 10 years. (She makes her predecessor Larry Wennlund look like a genius.)
McQueary loves to dish out the criticism, but her colleagues report she has a very thin skin when it comes to any criticism of her. (They call her "Miss Touchy.") Too bad. Of course, maybe she's looking for something beyond as the SS is struggling like all community newspapers these days. A great newspaper squeezed by it's selfish owners -- Wow. Nothing's changed since I was last there in 1985.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Although I haven't had much contact with Kelly over the years -- and Kosel doesn't talk to "Democrats" -- it seems McQueary's attack against Kelly might be one-sided.
Click here for the link to the story.
Although McQueary picks and chooses who she hammers -- she's no different than most other writers -- she did a nice job of fist-bumping Kosel, the do-nothing Republican incumbent who has held the legislative seat for the past 10 years. (She makes her predecessor Larry Wennlund look like a genius.)
McQueary loves to dish out the criticism, but her colleagues report she has a very thin skin when it comes to any criticism of her. (They call her "Miss Touchy.") Too bad. Of course, maybe she's looking for something beyond as the SS is struggling like all community newspapers these days. A great newspaper squeezed by it's selfish owners -- Wow. Nothing's changed since I was last there in 1985.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Examples of Rightwing fanatics on radio ... this one involves hate-monger Bill Cunningham
On his Cincinnati-based radio show, Bill Cunningham asked a fictional Jewish character voiced by a fellow WLW-AM host: "Did you hear about this [Rashid] Khalidi tape where Obama is toasting a guy who wants to gas and fry Jews? ... This Obama guy loves the PLO. Can't you figure that out?"
Cunningham later added, "Jews for [Sen. John] McCain because Obama wants to gas the Jews, like the PLO wants to gas the Jews, like the Nazis gassed the Jews."
Read more about this on the MediaMatters web site.
Bill Cunningham is a low-life hatemonger, a racist bigot and really should not be on the radio.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Cunningham later added, "Jews for [Sen. John] McCain because Obama wants to gas the Jews, like the PLO wants to gas the Jews, like the Nazis gassed the Jews."
Read more about this on the MediaMatters web site.
Bill Cunningham is a low-life hatemonger, a racist bigot and really should not be on the radio.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Roving lawn care companies slam Orland Park every weekend morning
I don't mind lawn care companies working like everyone else, but at 8 in the morning with three giant lawnmower machines that look like they belong on a farm not a suburban neighborhood, the lawn care companies rip up the lawns and disrupt the community.
Shouldn't they be licensed and regulated?
Who are these companies? They operate with crews of workers and while they care about one person's lawns, they are ALWAYS disrespectful to the other people's lawns who have not hired them.
A few months ago, the lawn care company was digging the ground at a home nearby but instead of parking their dirt-covered machines in front of that house -- they wouldn't want to upset the people paying them -- they parked in front of my house and the houses of two other neighbors tracking clumps of mud all over the sidewalks and the streets.
The guy stands atop this huge yellow tractor zipping through the neighbor's lawns and parts of anyone else's lawns that are in the way and their trimmers do great damage to the lawns and grass edges.
It's careless. And honestly, they're sloppy.
I used to have them do my lawn but they were never careful and stuff would be missing from the backyard all the time so I dumped them.
I mow my own lawn and trim my own trees and not only does it save money but it also looks far better than the machine chopped lawns of a few neighbors.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Shouldn't they be licensed and regulated?
Who are these companies? They operate with crews of workers and while they care about one person's lawns, they are ALWAYS disrespectful to the other people's lawns who have not hired them.
A few months ago, the lawn care company was digging the ground at a home nearby but instead of parking their dirt-covered machines in front of that house -- they wouldn't want to upset the people paying them -- they parked in front of my house and the houses of two other neighbors tracking clumps of mud all over the sidewalks and the streets.
The guy stands atop this huge yellow tractor zipping through the neighbor's lawns and parts of anyone else's lawns that are in the way and their trimmers do great damage to the lawns and grass edges.
It's careless. And honestly, they're sloppy.
I used to have them do my lawn but they were never careful and stuff would be missing from the backyard all the time so I dumped them.
I mow my own lawn and trim my own trees and not only does it save money but it also looks far better than the machine chopped lawns of a few neighbors.
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe to Ray's
Join Ray Hanania on the LinkedIN network today
Follow Ray Hanania's Suburban Chicago Blog
