Month: December 2011

Americans hopeful about 2012, not sold on 2011

Posted by dwilson – December 29, 2011

A new Associated Press-GfK poll indicates that 68 percent of respondents think 2011 is a bust, while 62 percent believe 2012 will be better.

Survey analysts said that 40 percent of Democrats were pleased with 2011. Republicans and independents were not as happy with the year, bringing the positive total for all respondents to 29 percent.

Partisan differences also were evident in the expectations about the presidential election. Three-quarters of Democrats say they think President Barack Obama will win re-election. Three-quarters of Republicans say Obama will lose.

Morry Taylor talks about GOP presidential herd

Posted by dwilson – December 21, 2011

Morry Taylor, the CEO of Quincy-based Titan International, was interviewed by the Daily Caller about this year’s crop of Republican presidential hopefuls.

Taylor campaigned for president in 1996 and has been a frequent commenter on all things presidential since that campaign year.

“To straighten our country out, the person who does it, if it ever happens, will be somebody who will step in and do the job in four years, and everybody will hate his or her *** and then 30 years later they’ll say ‘pretty smart,’ ” Taylor said in the story.

The reporter calls Taylor “the no-nonsense, swear-like-a-sailor businessman.”

Happy reading.

Illinois House member: boot Chicago out of state

Posted by dwilson – December 20, 2011

State Rep. Bill Mitchell Wants Congress to Make Cook Co. 51st State: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Illinois Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Decatur, has gotten some attention after proposing House Joint Resolution 62 that would exclude Chicago and suburban Cook County from the state of Illinois.

Mitchell made headlines last month when he said there are “irreconcilable differences” between Chicago and the rest of the state. His contention is that Cook County Democrats have been responsible for spending more money than the state takes in.

WGN television in Chicago reported that Chicago brings in 81 percent of total revenue for the state. That has been disputed by state officials, who say Cook County brings in a large share of the income, but in order to approach 81 percent the reporter must have been including all the collar counties.

Although the resolution is just a publicity stunt, it prompts one to wonder — “If there was a split, who would get the $8 billion budget shortfall?”

Sens. Blunt, Menendez debate tax deals

Posted by dwilson – December 19, 2011

CNN ran a segment Sunday that dealt with the U.S. Senate’s two-month payroll deduction plan and U.S. House opposition to anything short of a one-year plan.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Sen. Robert Menendex, D-New Jersey, represent their respective parties in the Senate for the piece.

Blunt will join the Senate leadership next year, but has a good knowledge of the House due to his previous service in the GOP leadership in that chamber.

Christine O’Donnell endorses Romney

Posted by dwilson – December 15, 2011

Christine O’Donnell, an unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate from Delaware, has endorsed Mitt Romney for president.

O’Donnell made headlines last year when she admitted dabbling in the occult and then cut a campaign ad in which she said, “I’m not a witch.” Her campaign sputtered during a year when Republicans surged in most places.

Members of the Democratic National Committee apparently think O’Donnell is still radioactive. The organization sent emails out about the endorsement.

O’Donnell is welcoming the publicity, having released a book titled “Troublemaker.”

Blagojevich gets 14 years and $20,000 fine

Posted by dwilson – December 7, 2011

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich will have to surrender to prison on Feb. 16, after he was sentenced today to 14 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

“I have nobody to blame but myself,” Blagojevich said. At another point he described himself as self-absorbed.

Blagojevich’s 15-year-old daughter, Amy, wrote a letter pleading that she needs her father in her life.

“He’s been here to teach me life lessons,” Amy wrote.

Judge James Zagel listened to Blagojevich apologize for illegal acts that led to a jury convicting him on 18 counts of political corruption. Zagel then split the difference between the 12.5- and 15.5-year sentence limits he felt were appropriate.

The Blagojevich sentence is a little more than double the sentence for former Gov. George Ryan.

 

Bill Clinton talks about book, 2012 and Gingrich

Posted by dwilson – December 2, 2011

Former President Bill Clinton was interviewed on the PBS Newshour Friday.

Clinton talked about his new book “Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy.” In addition, Clinton predicted that Barack Obama would be re-elected in 2012.

The longest-running topic in the interview, with Judy Woodruff, concerned Clinton’s thoughts on Newt Gingrich and how the former Speaker had been able to work with Clinton.