The ArchPundit loves to dish it out, but everyone says he has a thin skin when it comes to criticism. So be it.
In responding to my column on the fight between Blagojevich and Madigan,
http://www.swnewsherald.com/online_content/2007/08/083107rh_gov.php
Archpundit takes sides, as he always does, with clout, rather than reason. And, to emphasize his ignorance, uses namecalling rather than logic to address issues. Typical. But then, how many journalism awards has he won? Come to think of it, did he ever even serve in the U.S. Military?
Here's the link to the bile:
http://archpundit.com/blog/2007/08/31/daily-dolt-ray-haninia-rod-blagojevich-is-no-harold-washington/
The fact that he has to address my column is more significant than what he has to say. (You're not on Madigan's payroll, are you Archie?"
You know he's shilling for Madigan when he ignores the fact that Madigan is only really representative of his legislative district and is given power not by the authority of voters, but by the authority is political clout and insider favoritism. He's annointed by legislators who enjoy his largesse. Blagojevich, on the otherhand, is directly elected by the voters and not only has the powers that the ArchPundit articulates, but he also has the right to intervene and insure the legislature does the right thing.
Wow. What a strange concept in Illinois' corrupt political system of insiders, pals and partisan pundits.
-- Ray Hanania
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Letters from irate readers
Ray, is this - "What a bunch of hypocrites?" - actually a question?
Just wanted to drop you a line and say that your column was juvenile,illiterate, and characteristically nasty for a Democrat. Quick question for you: Chris Matthews (Democrat) says that Larry Craig is a "sexual deviant". I wasn't positive that these were his exact words in the interview he didwith another "polite Democrat", but he did us all a great favor and actually wrote the same comment in his blog. "Sexual deviant." Do you, as a polite Democrat, believe that all of the homosexuals who go looking for sex in public places are "sexual deviants"? Your constituency awaits your response with . bated breath. jerry
[Ray hanania responds: The issue was Senator Larry Craig was a hypocrite :)]
Just wanted to drop you a line and say that your column was juvenile,illiterate, and characteristically nasty for a Democrat. Quick question for you: Chris Matthews (Democrat) says that Larry Craig is a "sexual deviant". I wasn't positive that these were his exact words in the interview he didwith another "polite Democrat", but he did us all a great favor and actually wrote the same comment in his blog. "Sexual deviant." Do you, as a polite Democrat, believe that all of the homosexuals who go looking for sex in public places are "sexual deviants"? Your constituency awaits your response with . bated breath. jerry
[Ray hanania responds: The issue was Senator Larry Craig was a hypocrite :)]
Sunday, August 19, 2007
More on the Illi-NOISE battle between Madigan and Blagojevich
Hey, this is a fun topic. If the state is going to sink, we might as well enjoy the swimming, right?
Here's the link to my thoughts, posted on the DAILYKOS.COM:
http://www.dailykos.com/user/rayhanania
Here's the link to my thoughts, posted on the DAILYKOS.COM:
http://www.dailykos.com/user/rayhanania
Ray Hanania
www.TVChicagoland.com
Friday, August 17, 2007
A Letter from a Health Provider possibly?
We have finally found a bigger idiot than our Governor, you. If you actually spent any time reading the actual "IllinoisCovered" bill instead of hizzoners sound bites or actually studied the continuous failures of eleven other states. I probably wouldn't be forced to respond to your unfounded praise of our next convicted Governor
[HANANIA COMMENTS: I bet everyone in the healthcare industry thinks that us regular people are IDIOTS! Don't they? The email above, unsigned by a coward no doubt, originated from: "ABC Healthcare Plans Inc." abchealth@cbnstl.com" Obviously, the disrespectful attitude only reflects on ABC Healthcare Plans Inc. Tsk! Tsk!]
[HANANIA COMMENTS: I bet everyone in the healthcare industry thinks that us regular people are IDIOTS! Don't they? The email above, unsigned by a coward no doubt, originated from: "ABC Healthcare Plans Inc." abchealth@cbnstl.com" Obviously, the disrespectful attitude only reflects on ABC Healthcare Plans Inc. Tsk! Tsk!]
Letters and Madigan, Hynes and Blagojevich budget battle
Here are some letters:
Dear Mr. Hanania;
I've just read your column about the Illinois state budget battle and felt compelled to share my thoughts with you. It's a topic I've been following closely and am passionate about as an Illinois resident. You have identified one of the key problems in the budget situation, that being the power struggle between the Madigans and Blagojevich. Having control over the budget has been an obvious point of contention. However, to suggest that this conflict is the overriding issue holding up the budget seems to overlook some very important details. For one, Blagojevich's plan for universal health care, while filled with the best of intentions, is one of the largest sticking points. While lawmakers have been able to agree on a budget after many disagreements, Blago wants desperately to shove his health care plan in at the last second. But his plan is unfunded and will likely remain so; and for him to shove it onto to the budget after the legislature has already said their piece is stupid and stubborn. It's almost as if he's trying to pull a George Ryan and cover his corrupt legacy and empty list of accomplishments with health care. Now is just not the time. Also, Dan Hynes maintaining that gov't could shut down is still a legitimate concern. The comptroller cannot dole out funds for paychecks and the like without a budget; that would require changing the Constitution. And if this frustrating budget situation continues on, many gov't workers aren't going to see a reason to come into work unless it means money in the bank. And really, who can blame them? Blagojevich has had his share of chances during this budget process and he's used them all up. He's acted like a fussy baby by missing meetings and generally being unwilling to compromise. A good politician knows when he or she doesn't have the political capital to push for their pet projects. As much as he wants to blame this on pork (and I'm sure there's some in there; this is Illinois after all), this budget crisis has a lot to do with Blago's poor choice of timing. He's going to be in office another three years, so let's give it a rest already.
Cheers,
Steve Mizek
www.littlewhiteearbuds.wordpress.com
www.residentadvisor.net
[HANANIA COMMENTS: My only comment is I do not accept this lame excuse from politicians like Dan Hynes that they are helpless to get things done. He's the freaking comptroller and while the State Constitution may legally prevent him from paying employees, the fact is he is STILL Collecting taxes, employees are STILL working. How come them not him? And further I think that the politicians have set up a system where they can pass the buck faster than a casino dealer in Illinois. In fact, I'm going to write the column. Cook County Taxes is the scam of all scams where one official does one thing, one does another and another does another, so that when taxes rise they all shrug their shoulders and plead, "It's not our fault." Still, your letter was the sanest out of the bunch and you make some great points.]
Dear Mr. Hanania;
I've just read your column about the Illinois state budget battle and felt compelled to share my thoughts with you. It's a topic I've been following closely and am passionate about as an Illinois resident. You have identified one of the key problems in the budget situation, that being the power struggle between the Madigans and Blagojevich. Having control over the budget has been an obvious point of contention. However, to suggest that this conflict is the overriding issue holding up the budget seems to overlook some very important details. For one, Blagojevich's plan for universal health care, while filled with the best of intentions, is one of the largest sticking points. While lawmakers have been able to agree on a budget after many disagreements, Blago wants desperately to shove his health care plan in at the last second. But his plan is unfunded and will likely remain so; and for him to shove it onto to the budget after the legislature has already said their piece is stupid and stubborn. It's almost as if he's trying to pull a George Ryan and cover his corrupt legacy and empty list of accomplishments with health care. Now is just not the time. Also, Dan Hynes maintaining that gov't could shut down is still a legitimate concern. The comptroller cannot dole out funds for paychecks and the like without a budget; that would require changing the Constitution. And if this frustrating budget situation continues on, many gov't workers aren't going to see a reason to come into work unless it means money in the bank. And really, who can blame them? Blagojevich has had his share of chances during this budget process and he's used them all up. He's acted like a fussy baby by missing meetings and generally being unwilling to compromise. A good politician knows when he or she doesn't have the political capital to push for their pet projects. As much as he wants to blame this on pork (and I'm sure there's some in there; this is Illinois after all), this budget crisis has a lot to do with Blago's poor choice of timing. He's going to be in office another three years, so let's give it a rest already.
Cheers,
Steve Mizek
www.littlewhiteearbuds.wordpress.com
www.residentadvisor.net
[HANANIA COMMENTS: My only comment is I do not accept this lame excuse from politicians like Dan Hynes that they are helpless to get things done. He's the freaking comptroller and while the State Constitution may legally prevent him from paying employees, the fact is he is STILL Collecting taxes, employees are STILL working. How come them not him? And further I think that the politicians have set up a system where they can pass the buck faster than a casino dealer in Illinois. In fact, I'm going to write the column. Cook County Taxes is the scam of all scams where one official does one thing, one does another and another does another, so that when taxes rise they all shrug their shoulders and plead, "It's not our fault." Still, your letter was the sanest out of the bunch and you make some great points.]
Friday, August 10, 2007
Campaign for Sensible Growth opposes budget without new transit revenues
STATE BUDGET PROPOSAL THREATENS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, TRANSIT SYSTEM Campaign for Sensible Growth opposes budget without new transit revenues
(Chicago) … The Campaign for Sensible Growth is appalled that the Illinois General Assembly is preparing to pass a state budget with no new revenues dedicated to Chicago-area transit. The Campaign’s staff leader today expressed concern that planning reforms and innovations passed by the legislature this session will get lost in the same shuffle, despite months of deliberation during the legislative overtime session.
“If adequate funding to support public transportation – a no-brainer in any well-planned region – is left off the payroll, it’s likely that other sensible growth programs and initiatives will be threatened by this nearsighted budget,” said Michael Davidson, manager, Campaign for Sensible Growth.
“Our region is expected to grow by 2 million people by 2030, and add an additional 1.2 millions jobs. At a time when we’re so obviously in need of long-term planning, we cannot abide short-term budgeting.”
Davidson did applaud the Illinois General Assembly for its important work this session to pass SB 1201, which would create a $5 million Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund to help metropolitan Chicago and other regions take a long-term view to plan for more effective investment and development decisions. Now awaiting Governor Blagojevich's signature, the bill is intended to help regional organizations like the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), which was formed recently to integrate planning for land use and transportation in the seven-county region. But that modest funding is just a start, said Davidson, and the state needs to make serious ? not stop-gap ? investments in transportation infrastructure, including transit.
The Illinois General Assembly also unanimously approved the Green Neighborhood Award Act (SB 135), a leap forward for community planning that may take a step back if state funding comes up short. The bill proposes incentives for developers who create communities that feature green buildings and pedestrian and bike-friendly streets, to reduce overall energy consumption, encourage strong local economies, improve public health, and save communities and consumers money.
“A family living in a green neighborhood stands to cut annual energy and transportation costs by $3,148 ? a far cry from most individuals and families across the region who continually brace themselves to dig deeper in their pockets to afford transportation costs,” said Davidson.
Indeed, unless lawmakers identify funding for transit, come September, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace will move forward with deep service cuts in the city and suburbs as well as significant fare hikes. All three transit service providers – CTA, Metra and Pace – will be forced to indefinitely put off much-needed maintenance projects, threatening the safety and reliability of the transit system as a whole.
“Lawmakers cannot campaign from a platform of a strong economy and high quality of life and then undermine a critical component of both — a regional transit system that helps guide growth,” said Davidson.
“Delay tactics for dedicated funding streams is bad politics and poor public policy, and the result is a disproportionate burden on taxpaying citizens down the road. Investing in the long term pays dividends. That’s just good business.”
Contact: Michael Davidson
Manager, Campaign for Sensible Growth
312-863-6009 / 773-550-7927
end
(Chicago) … The Campaign for Sensible Growth is appalled that the Illinois General Assembly is preparing to pass a state budget with no new revenues dedicated to Chicago-area transit. The Campaign’s staff leader today expressed concern that planning reforms and innovations passed by the legislature this session will get lost in the same shuffle, despite months of deliberation during the legislative overtime session.
“If adequate funding to support public transportation – a no-brainer in any well-planned region – is left off the payroll, it’s likely that other sensible growth programs and initiatives will be threatened by this nearsighted budget,” said Michael Davidson, manager, Campaign for Sensible Growth.
“Our region is expected to grow by 2 million people by 2030, and add an additional 1.2 millions jobs. At a time when we’re so obviously in need of long-term planning, we cannot abide short-term budgeting.”
Davidson did applaud the Illinois General Assembly for its important work this session to pass SB 1201, which would create a $5 million Comprehensive Regional Planning Fund to help metropolitan Chicago and other regions take a long-term view to plan for more effective investment and development decisions. Now awaiting Governor Blagojevich's signature, the bill is intended to help regional organizations like the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), which was formed recently to integrate planning for land use and transportation in the seven-county region. But that modest funding is just a start, said Davidson, and the state needs to make serious ? not stop-gap ? investments in transportation infrastructure, including transit.
The Illinois General Assembly also unanimously approved the Green Neighborhood Award Act (SB 135), a leap forward for community planning that may take a step back if state funding comes up short. The bill proposes incentives for developers who create communities that feature green buildings and pedestrian and bike-friendly streets, to reduce overall energy consumption, encourage strong local economies, improve public health, and save communities and consumers money.
“A family living in a green neighborhood stands to cut annual energy and transportation costs by $3,148 ? a far cry from most individuals and families across the region who continually brace themselves to dig deeper in their pockets to afford transportation costs,” said Davidson.
Indeed, unless lawmakers identify funding for transit, come September, the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace will move forward with deep service cuts in the city and suburbs as well as significant fare hikes. All three transit service providers – CTA, Metra and Pace – will be forced to indefinitely put off much-needed maintenance projects, threatening the safety and reliability of the transit system as a whole.
“Lawmakers cannot campaign from a platform of a strong economy and high quality of life and then undermine a critical component of both — a regional transit system that helps guide growth,” said Davidson.
“Delay tactics for dedicated funding streams is bad politics and poor public policy, and the result is a disproportionate burden on taxpaying citizens down the road. Investing in the long term pays dividends. That’s just good business.”
Contact: Michael Davidson
Manager, Campaign for Sensible Growth
312-863-6009 / 773-550-7927
end
Thursday, August 9, 2007
State by State report on the condition of highways in America from the Reason Foundation
The Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Performance Report, which was released in June, contained a category ranking each state’s percentage of deficient bridges. Of the 596,980 highway bridges in the current National Bridge Inventory, 147,913—24.52 percent—were reported deficient in 2005. The Reason Foundation study finds at the current rate of repair it will take 50 years to fix today’s deficient bridges.
Nevada has the lowest percentage of deficient bridges, 3.89 percent. Minnesota, where this week’s tragic bridge collapse occurred, ranked 5th in the nation, with 13 percent of its bridges deemed deficient. Rhode Island’s bridges are in the worst shape – with over half, 53.01 percent, of the state’s bridges qualifying as deficient. In all there are 36 states where at least 20 percent of the bridges are deficient – and 48 states where at least 10 percent of bridges are deficient.
"We're falling further and further behind," said Robert Poole, director of transportation studies at Reason Foundation and an adviser to the Federal Highway Administration. "We're prospering as a nation, driving more as commuters and shipping more goods, and that's pounding the highways and wearing them out. We need to rethink how we fund and repair our roads and bridges."
Deficient Bridges (Percent of Bridges Deficient in 2005)
1. Nevada (3.89%)2. Arizona (5.50)3. Wyoming (12.37)4. Colorado (12.96)5. Minnesota (13.16)6. Wisconsin (15.93)7. Delaware (16.55)8. Utah (17.55)9. Illinois (17.56)10. California (17.59)11. Florida (18.33)12. New Mexico (18.43)13. Idaho (18.91)14. Tennessee (19.26)15. Georgia (20.35)16. Texas (20.56)17. Kansas (21.05)18. Montana (21.20)19. Indiana (21.83)20. Arkansas (22.24)21. Virginia (22.46)22. Alaska (22.84)23. Ohio (23.61)24. South Carolina (23.63)25. North Dakota (24.24)26. Nebraska (24.55)27. Washington (24.55)28. Alabama (24.94)29. Oregon (25.34)30. South Dakota (25.62)31. Mississippi (26.42)32. Maryland (26.93)33. Iowa (27.06)34. Michigan (27.60)35. New Jersey (27.91)36. Maine (29.87)37. New Hampshire (30.54)38. Louisiana (30.67)39. North Carolina (30.91)40. Kentucky (31.45)41. Missouri (31.47)42. Oklahoma (33.04)43. Connecticut (34.18)44. Vermont (34.80)45. Massachusetts (36.38)46. Hawaii (36.85)47. New York (37.08)48. West Virginia (37.10)49. Pennsylvania (39.00)50. Rhode Island (53.01)
Federal law mandates the uniform inspection of all bridges for structural and functional adequacy at least every two years; bridges rated ‘deficient’ are eligible for federal repair dollars.
Full Report Online
The full 16th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems, with detailed information for each state, is available online at http://www.reason.org/ps360. The study measures the performance of state-owned roads and highways from 1984 to 2005 in 12 different categories, including traffic fatalities, congestion, pavement condition, bridge condition, highway maintenance and administrative costs, to determine each state’s ranking and cost-effectiveness.
Reason’s 2006 study showing how congested each city in the country will be in 2030 and how many new lane miles are needed to eliminate congestion is online at http://www.reason.org/ps346/index.shtml.
Reason Foundation’s extensive archive of transportation research and commentary is here: http://www.reason.org/transportation/index.shtml.
About Reason
Reason Foundation is a nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing free minds and free markets. Reason produces respected public policy research on a variety of issues and publishes the critically acclaimed monthly magazine, Reason. For more information, please visit www.reason.org.
Chris Mitchell
Director of Communications
Reason Foundation
(310) 367-6109
Nevada has the lowest percentage of deficient bridges, 3.89 percent. Minnesota, where this week’s tragic bridge collapse occurred, ranked 5th in the nation, with 13 percent of its bridges deemed deficient. Rhode Island’s bridges are in the worst shape – with over half, 53.01 percent, of the state’s bridges qualifying as deficient. In all there are 36 states where at least 20 percent of the bridges are deficient – and 48 states where at least 10 percent of bridges are deficient.
"We're falling further and further behind," said Robert Poole, director of transportation studies at Reason Foundation and an adviser to the Federal Highway Administration. "We're prospering as a nation, driving more as commuters and shipping more goods, and that's pounding the highways and wearing them out. We need to rethink how we fund and repair our roads and bridges."
Deficient Bridges (Percent of Bridges Deficient in 2005)
1. Nevada (3.89%)2. Arizona (5.50)3. Wyoming (12.37)4. Colorado (12.96)5. Minnesota (13.16)6. Wisconsin (15.93)7. Delaware (16.55)8. Utah (17.55)9. Illinois (17.56)10. California (17.59)11. Florida (18.33)12. New Mexico (18.43)13. Idaho (18.91)14. Tennessee (19.26)15. Georgia (20.35)16. Texas (20.56)17. Kansas (21.05)18. Montana (21.20)19. Indiana (21.83)20. Arkansas (22.24)21. Virginia (22.46)22. Alaska (22.84)23. Ohio (23.61)24. South Carolina (23.63)25. North Dakota (24.24)26. Nebraska (24.55)27. Washington (24.55)28. Alabama (24.94)29. Oregon (25.34)30. South Dakota (25.62)31. Mississippi (26.42)32. Maryland (26.93)33. Iowa (27.06)34. Michigan (27.60)35. New Jersey (27.91)36. Maine (29.87)37. New Hampshire (30.54)38. Louisiana (30.67)39. North Carolina (30.91)40. Kentucky (31.45)41. Missouri (31.47)42. Oklahoma (33.04)43. Connecticut (34.18)44. Vermont (34.80)45. Massachusetts (36.38)46. Hawaii (36.85)47. New York (37.08)48. West Virginia (37.10)49. Pennsylvania (39.00)50. Rhode Island (53.01)
Federal law mandates the uniform inspection of all bridges for structural and functional adequacy at least every two years; bridges rated ‘deficient’ are eligible for federal repair dollars.
Full Report Online
The full 16th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems, with detailed information for each state, is available online at http://www.reason.org/ps360. The study measures the performance of state-owned roads and highways from 1984 to 2005 in 12 different categories, including traffic fatalities, congestion, pavement condition, bridge condition, highway maintenance and administrative costs, to determine each state’s ranking and cost-effectiveness.
Reason’s 2006 study showing how congested each city in the country will be in 2030 and how many new lane miles are needed to eliminate congestion is online at http://www.reason.org/ps346/index.shtml.
Reason Foundation’s extensive archive of transportation research and commentary is here: http://www.reason.org/transportation/index.shtml.
About Reason
Reason Foundation is a nonprofit think tank dedicated to advancing free minds and free markets. Reason produces respected public policy research on a variety of issues and publishes the critically acclaimed monthly magazine, Reason. For more information, please visit www.reason.org.
Chris Mitchell
Director of Communications
Reason Foundation
(310) 367-6109
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