Congressman Judy Biggert claims credit for bill she fought

Congressman Judy Biggert, according to his allies, is a good person. But of course, like all shaky politicians, Biggert is afraid to answer questions, speak reporters who challenger her on serious politics and assess her record.

Which is why we're not surprised by the headline at Progress Illinois. READ IT? She got a real pass, unfortunately, from the Naperville Sun.

We've tried to interview Biggert, who "represents" Orland Park the way the Soviet Union used to represent Poland -- with little regard to anything that matters to us.

There's talk she might retire and a certain rising star in the Republican Party might take her place.

We like you Judy. But maybe you're not cut out to be a responsive elected official.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Fighting news media bias and my new book Secrets of New Media Networking

I just finished my first edition of "Secrets of New Media Networking" my collection of ideas on how to overcome bias in the mainstream news media.

It's not about putting a check on someone else's opinions that you like or do not like, but about getting your own opinions into the mainstream news media. The mainstream news media, when it comes to "certain topics," is biased. Plain and simple. I know that because I have been in the news media now 32 years, not including six years working in high school and college newspapers.

The reality is that the extremism in the mainstream bias is the primary fuel feeding the extremism that we find in communities like the American Arab community. The bias reinforces the frustrations of the public and that frustration is consumed by anger, emotion and turns into an unreasoned support of the only option they then feel is out there for them, the loudmouthed, extremists who use violence and hatred to 1) keep their followers in a continued state of frustration and 2) provoke the conflict into more conflict and greater violence which gives them a reason to exist.

If we EVER achieved a real and genuine peace in the Middle East, for example, hundreds of thousands of activists on both sides would find themselves out of a job.

I want to put a lot of those biased activists on both sides out of a job and create a new environment where peace creates a new market that creates jobs promoting reason, moderation, understanding and truly free speech.

But my book is not about the Arab-Israeli conflict, although I do use it as an example -- my personal example of how the mainstream news media bias works. My book is about how to take the bias that YOU see in the mainstream news media to motivate you to easily create an alternative using the Internet to get your message, your views and your products out to the public. It's not hard to do using web sites, blogs of different strategic focuses and topics, social media like Facebook and MySpace, and Twitter and even brokered radio and cable TV public access. It all can come together and create a powerful market place for your views.

The book also discusses the moral responsibility of the media and journalism. It's not good to simply replace one biased media with another biased media. You want to add your views to the public discussion not stereotype, slander or discriminate against the free speech of others. You want to make the mainstream news media objective, not biased towards your opinion. You MUST adhere to principle, fairness, and give others the same that you demand, an opportunity to be heard.

The best strategy to fight extremism, terrorism and violence from extremists is to insure that your strategy includes a significant component that truly expands free speech to everyone. Achieving a fair news media system will do far more to undermine the extremists than all of the military conflict that has been launched in our history as human beings on this planet.

We would have won the Iraq War long ago if we had been more sensitive to the moderates in the Arab World who were shut out of the American effort not because of the war but because the American effort never treated them with respect or respected their views.

I hope you get a chance to check out the new books. CLICK HERE TO GET more information on the book.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Fighting news media bias and my new book Secrets of New Media Networking

I just finished my first edition of "Secrets of New Media Networking" my collection of ideas on how to overcome bias in the mainstream news media.

It's not about putting a check on someone else's opinions that you like or do not like, but about getting your own opinions into the mainstream news media. The mainstream news media, when it comes to "certain topics," is biased. Plain and simple. I know that because I have been in the news media now 32 years, not including six years working in high school and college newspapers.

The reality is that the extremism in the mainstream bias is the primary fuel feeding the extremism that we find in communities like the American Arab community. The bias reinforces the frustrations of the public and that frustration is consumed by anger, emotion and turns into an unreasoned support of the only option they then feel is out there for them, the loudmouthed, extremists who use violence and hatred to 1) keep their followers in a continued state of frustration and 2) provoke the conflict into more conflict and greater violence which gives them a reason to exist.

If we EVER achieved a real and genuine peace in the Middle East, for example, hundreds of thousands of activists on both sides would find themselves out of a job.

I want to put a lot of those biased activists on both sides out of a job and create a new environment where peace creates a new market that creates jobs promoting reason, moderation, understanding and truly free speech.

But my book is not about the Arab-Israeli conflict, although I do use it as an example -- my personal example of how the mainstream news media bias works. My book is about how to take the bias that YOU see in the mainstream news media to motivate you to easily create an alternative using the Internet to get your message, your views and your products out to the public. It's not hard to do using web sites, blogs of different strategic focuses and topics, social media like Facebook and MySpace, and Twitter and even brokered radio and cable TV public access. It all can come together and create a powerful market place for your views.

The book also discusses the moral responsibility of the media and journalism. It's not good to simply replace one biased media with another biased media. You want to add your views to the public discussion not stereotype, slander or discriminate against the free speech of others. You want to make the mainstream news media objective, not biased towards your opinion. You MUST adhere to principle, fairness, and give others the same that you demand, an opportunity to be heard.

The best strategy to fight extremism, terrorism and violence from extremists is to insure that your strategy includes a significant component that truly expands free speech to everyone. Achieving a fair news media system will do far more to undermine the extremists than all of the military conflict that has been launched in our history as human beings on this planet.

We would have won the Iraq War long ago if we had been more sensitive to the moderates in the Arab World who were shut out of the American effort not because of the war but because the American effort never treated them with respect or respected their views.

I hope you get a chance to check out the new books. CLICK HERE TO GET more information on the book.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Most disgusting thing to see is arrogant police fail to do their jobs

The most disgusting thing I saw tonight was the CBS 48 Hours investigation into the bungling of the Peggy Hetterick murder in 1987 and the outright bungling and mishandling and apparent railroading of the wrong suspect by the Fort Collins, Colorado Police Department and chief officer leading the investigation, James Broderick.

Why is Broderick not charged and jailed for his pathetic performance as a police investigator. His failings in the investigation of the murder of Peggy Hetterick border and may even cross misconduct and he should be sent to jail to compensate for the grief and suffering his bungling caused to Tim Masters, who Broderick railroaded into a conviction.

Broderick claims he didn't intentionally withhold any evidence, even though much evidence was withheld that would have cleared Masters, who spent nine years in jail for a crime he did not convict. Worse is that because of the pathetic and incompetent work of James Broderick, the real murderer of Peggy Hetterick has been free.

The 48 Hours Investigation showed that the DNA evidence pointed to Hetterick's boyfriend, whom Broderick never pointed any suspicion.

Broderick is the poster child of everything that is morally and ethically corrupt with police in this country, a symbol of how incompetent police even when exposed refuse to acknowledge their own failings and would rather lie and deny than accept responsibility for a travesty of justice.

Not only should Broderick be jailed but the two prosecutors who are now judges should be brought before a judicial review and jailed themselves.

Pathetic. Disgusting. Shameful. The Fort Collins, Colorado Police Department should hang its professional head in shame as this wrong prosecution is a blemish and dark cloud that will forever mark their unprofessionalism.

Jim Broderick does not deserve to ever hold the title of "investigator" because he couldn't investigate his way out of a paper bag.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes entering governor's race gives voters best choice

When Pat Quinn was an outsider, he was a great advocate and champion of the public's rights. But ever since he got "political religion" and became an insider,m snubbing community media and pimping for the powers that be so he can "retire" with final gubernatorial glory, he has been a huge disappointment.

As a champion of the public's rights, Pat Quinn was our spokesman. As our governor pushing an unprecedented income tax hike, Pat Quinn is a hypocrite. As a governor who regularly snubs community media to play favoritism with the "big, biased mainstream news media," Pat Quinn is a phony.

That's why the entrance of Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes into the race gives voters their best choice for governor on the Democratic side. Hynes is the best alternative to Quinn and with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan making a concern-for-the-public choice to take a pass on the governor's office and the U.S. Senate office, Hynes has clear sailing and we wish him the best in the Democratic primary.

The November election becomes difficult for voters and so far there are few Republican party candidates advocating for the interests of the voters. Dan Proft, who represents the heart and soul of the Republican Party, is probably the best candidate although funding will decide who wins in that race. Visit www.Proft2010.com for info.

But the anticipated Hynes announcement for governor is a welcome relief from the alternative insider's choice with Pat Quinn, the former Don Quixote who thinks he is now a Democratic Don with "family" ties.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Former Congressman Bill Lipinski predicts Gov Quinn will win re-election

Former Congressman Bill Lipinski this morning on WJJG 1530 AM Radio's "Mornings with Ray Hanania" discusses Obama's health care package, criticizing his failure to focus his comments more effectively; discussing the Illinois elections for governor and U.S. Senate predicting Gov Pat Quinn will win hands down and that State Comptroller Dan Hynes could take the race from both Congressman Mark Kirk and Alexi Giannoulias. www.RadioChicagoland.com

Lipinski's comments are podcast. Click HERE to listen.

end

Liz Gorman pushes sales tax repeal for taxpayers

Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth Doody "Liz" Gorman may not be very popular with the North Side liberals, nor the extremist wing of her party, nor with the leaders of the 19th Ward who are conspiring to take over Orland Park and the suburbs.

But she has to be popular with taxpayers, not just in her 17th District but in the entire county. Everyone said it couldn't be done, but Gorman pushed ahead and refused to give up the resistance to the 1 percent sales tax increase imposed by the beleaguered Cook County Board President Todd Stroger.

The sales tax is repressive. It has chased out more businesses and caused more lost county revenues than it can generate from the over-taxed county residents.

With the support of key members of the county board including Democrats like Commissioners John Daley and Larry Suffredin, the Gorman repeal movement redefined itself after being beat back by Stroger's veto. On Tuesday, much to Stroger's chagrin -- he should get used to it -- the Gorman repeal was approved with 13 votes rolling back the 1 percent increase by half.

It's a major blow for Stroger, who has managed politics ineptly since taking over the helm form his dying father, the popular John Stroger. But while the father led with his experience and brains. Strogers leads by consultant and adviser.

The only commissioner missing in action was Forrest Claypool who would have been there to vote and claim credit had he still been running for Cook County Board president against Stroger. But polls show that Claypool is not as popular as he thinks and his ability to raise funds was questionable enough to force him to withdraw from the contest. So, not running for anything to help himself, Claypool is just MIA.

Stroger beat back two prior efforts to repeal the tax. But this time, things may be different. Stroger has until September to veto the measure, but with the vote and assuming Claypool can manage to get himself back into his seat soon, the Gorman repeal will have the 14 votes to override Stroger's veto. And that will only set Stroger up for more troubles.

The repeal drew more votes because even Stroger's allies including Deborah Sims and Robert Steele switched to support the repeal vote. Stroger's stalwart former Chicago Alderman Bill Beavers is catching flak from voters tired of arrogant politicians like him who ignore their needs and put their own family and interests and power first, so he voted "present." Beaver is a "me-first" commissioner, but he could not stand up to the growing voter anger over Stroger's repressive sales tax.

The victory only reinforces Gorman's voter popularity. The Stroger Sales Tax is on top of their minds in Cook County and any politician who supports the sales tax hike or is silent -- and many including some of her opponents have been deathly silent on the issue -- will face a voter backlash in the Spring and next year in the general election.

As the late Mayor Richard M. Daley once said, "Good government is good politics." That means worrying about what's good for the taxpayers is the best way to reinforce your own interests. Worrying about your interests, Stroger and Beavers style, is not good government at all but Machine politics at its worst.

A NOTE ABOUT JOAN MURPHY

Even Joan Murphy, who is facing a stiff challenge from Nick Valadez, flip-flopped in the face of voter anger. Murphy is unbelievable, though. While she supported the repeal -- so she can mislead voters into thinking she supporters the interest of taxpayers -- Murphy was th elead sponsor of the proposal to not only pass the 1 percent Stroger Sales Tax. Murphy wanted to increase it by 2 percent.

You'll hear a lot of howling from Stroger and Murphy, who just might flip flop again. That's her style. Lie to the voters and confuse them, as she is trying to do in the water-poinsoned village of Crestwood where she lives and has supported the Stranczek administrations see no poison, hear no poison, speak no poison policies.

Sticking to their guns and voting against the repeal and against taxpayers were Commissioners Joseph Mario Moreno and Jerome Butler.

Give Valadez credit, too. Valadez announced his campaign to unseat flip flopping Murphy in the 6th District last week in Tinley Park, surrounded by 150 of his supporters. Without an election challenge, Murphy would simply do what she always does, ignore the taxpayers and follow the dictates of Boss Stroger.

Here's the vote breakdown:

Yes: Earlean Collins, John Daley, Bridget Gainer, Liz Gorman, Gregg Goslin, Roberto Maldonado, Joan Murphy, Timothy Schneider, Peter Silvestri, Deborah Sims, Robert Steele, and Larry Suffredin
No: Jerry Butler, Joseph Mario Moreno
Present: William Beavers
Absent: Forrest Claypool, Tony Peraica
-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com