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Thank Heaven for small favors

Tuesday, Jul 23, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Dave Lundy…

Just got word on good authority, and have updated Trial Balloons, that Scott Lee Cohen has decided not to run for Treasurer. Thought you’d like to know.

  38 Comments      


A look at the numbers

Tuesday, Jul 23, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A new national survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with The Brookings Institution found that 52 percent of Americans favor gay marriage, while 41 percent oppose it. Another 7 percent said they were undecided.

* But the survey can also help us figure out why there is such push-back among African-American churches and Republicans to gay marriage here in Illinois.

For instance

Among black Americans, nearly half (49%) are theological conservatives, 30% are theological moderates and 14 percent are theological liberals.

That compared to 40-25-18 for whites, so, overall, African-Americans are quite a bit more conservative theologically than whites.

That doesn’t explain everything, of course. New York has a higher percentage of African-Americans than Illinois, but it still approved gay marriage.

* And

Republicans (57%) are nearly twice as likely as independents (31%) or Democrats (31%) to be theological conservatives. Tea Party members have a similar theological profile to Republicans overall, as nearly 6-in-10 (59%) are theological conservatives.

That Tea Party bent is what frightens incumbent Republicans the most, because that’s where their primary campaign opposition has been coming from during the past few cycles.

* And this is why the opposition appears to be literally dying off

Religious conservatives make up smaller proportions of each successive generation, from 47% of the Silent Generation, 34% of the Baby Boomers, 23% of Generation X and 17% of Millenials.

  15 Comments      


Fahner: Civic Committee helped jaw down state’s bond rating

Tuesday, Jul 23, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* A commenter mentioned something the other day which caught my eye. The commenter claimed that the Civic Committee’s Ty Fahner admitted in a March speech to the Union League Club that he had actively helped talked down the state’s bond rating in order to put more pressure on the General Assembly to pass pension reform.

So, I looked up the video and watched it this morning while hanging out at my uncle’s house

The commenter wasn’t quite right, but he was close.

* If you go to about the 47-minute mark, you’ll hear an unidentified questioner say this to Fahner…

“Maybe sometimes you gotta be irresponsible to be responsible. If a political solution really doesn’t produce a favorable outcome, maybe you really need a market solution. And a market solution, I don’t mean bankruptcy, I mean actually talking down the state rating even further so the state’s bonds essentially become below investment grade. And it drives up the borrowing cost to the state and all of us to a significant level enough that you really feel the public pressure…”

* Fahner’s response…

“The Civic Committee, not me, but some of the people that make up the Civic Committee… did meet with and call - in one case in person - and a couple of calls to Moody’s and Fitch and Standard & Poors, and say ‘How in the hell can you guys do this? You are an enabler to let the state continue. You keep threatening more and more and more.’

“And I think now we’ve backed off. We don’t want to be the straw that broke the camel’s back… It hasn’t been irresponsible, but we have told them that we thought they were being irresponsible. But we stopped that a couple of months ago.”

Thoughts?

  96 Comments      


IFI plans Statehouse veto session rally

Tuesday, Jul 23, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From an Illinois Family Institute action alert

Join IFI and Illinois families from around the state to take a stand to protect marriage, religious freedom, parental rights and the innocence of our children! Plan to bring your family and friends AND organize your church to support this second Defend Marriage Lobby Day.

It is critically important that we have a strong showing because homosexual activists continue to press for counterfeit “marriage” (SB 10), which will affect all of society, especially children and religious freedom. The groups pushing to pass this bill are planning to be at the Capitol on October 22nd, the day before our event. According to a 6-12-13 Windy City Times article, they have dubbed it “10.000 Families March for Marriage Equality.”

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!

Wednesday, October 23rd
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Illinois State Capitol
401 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62701

Schedule:

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Prayer Watch at the Lincoln Statue
(east side of Capitol)

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Marriage Rally in Rotunda

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Prayer Watch in the Rotunda

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Visit your state representatives […]

Over the past seven months, we have been busy contacting churches in key districts. Thousands of religious leaders from across the state have responded, voicing their opposition to marriage redefinition to local state lawmakers. They have urged their members to stand for God-ordained marriage. And as a result, YOU stepped forward. Perhaps for the first time. Thank you! But we need you to do it again, for as long as this issue is on the minds of those who are in power to pass laws.

Keep in mind, there is strong opposition to same-sex marriage here in Illinois. You are that opposition! The establishment media would have us believe that it is only a matter of time — that marriage redefinition is inevitable. It is only inevitable if we fail to speak up and demonstrate our objection to this radical policy!

Discuss.

  41 Comments      


You’ll need a ticket to see the Cup

Tuesday, Jul 23, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The Stanley Cup is coming to Springfield, but only for private ceremonies so far

Rocky Wirtz - chairman of the 2013 National Hockey League champion Chicago Blackhawks - announced Monday the trophy will appear at private events on July 29.

It will go to a legislative reception at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, then for a photo with the Illinois Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing.

The public may snap photos with the trophy when it arrives at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport at 7 a.m. and leaves the library and museum at 9 a.m.

Officials say it’s possible the cup will be back in Springfield next month.

If there’s a special session during the State Fair, it’s possible that we might see it again.

* Meanwhile

A bet is a bet, and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is certainly a man of his word.

Following a friendly Stanley Cup wager with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, the two politicians are coming together Tuesday to volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The afternoon at the food bank is all part of a bet made prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, in which the Chicago Blackhawks topped the Boston Bruins in six games.

The wager dictated that the losing team’s governor would agree to spend the day volunteering at a food bank in the winning team’s city. Patrick actually grew up in Chicago and last month had a portion of a city street named in his honor. It was just one high-profile bet made on a series that will forever be ranked among the most exciting Cup Finals in recent history.

  14 Comments      


Question of the day

Tuesday, Jul 23, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* There is probably little harm right now, and probably far more upside, to promoting one’s possible candidacy for governor, considering the apparent dissatisfaction voters have with the two Democratic candidates. So, this self-floatation should be expected

ABC7’s political reporter Charles Thomas has learned another candidate might enter the democratic race for Illinois Governor. State senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) says he is giving it serious consideration.

Raoul was poised to run for attorney general if incumbent Lisa Madigan had run for governor. Now that Madigan has decided to stay put, Raoul has “pivoted” as he put it, and is now sizing up a gubernatorial campaign.

“You know, you don’t rule out anything. So I haven’t ruled out anything. But my focus right now is this pension reform problem,” said Sen. Raoul. […]

The Governor’s strong support among African-Americans could be threatened by Raoul, a 48-year-old Hyde Park attorney who took Barack Obama’s Senate seat in 2004. He authored the bill that abolished the state’s death penalty and this year, helped negotiate the new concealed carry law.

He says he will not make a decision on the Governor’s race until after his conference committee finishes work on pension reform.

“Once we take care of this problem, politics will take care of itself,” said Sen. Raoul.

* The Question: Should Sen. Kwame Raoul run for governor? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please. And please note that I asked “should” and not “will.”


polls

Just so you know, it’s probably gonna be a light blogging day. So, have at it.

  103 Comments      


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