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* I’m pretty sure that if we let legislators vote on who is the most obnoxious and goofy freshman, Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) would win hands down.
Yesterday, the House took up SB 1872 as amended. The bill, which would eliminate the felony prostitution penalty, is being pushed by groups like Protestants for the Common Good…
Illinois’ felony punishment for a second prostitution offense is an expensive, ineffective use of diminishing local and state public safety resources. Illinois’ Department of Corrections reported 127 felony prostitution admissions for 2012, costing the state $2,011,680.
Felony prostitution unfairly targets women for harsher punishments. The “solicitation” offense for customers does not have a felony upgrade for subsequent offenses. In 2011, when law enforcement charged under the state criminal code, there were 1,875 arrests for prostitution and 95 arrests for solicitation.
Felony prostitution sentencing is rare in the United States – only seven other states have a felony prostitution sentencing option for subsequent offenses.
* No law enforcement or prosecutorial opposition ever surfaced. The bill passed the Senate 53-1.
* But Rep. Drury, who never stops reminding people that he is a former federal prosecutor, began by asking the sponsor, Rep. Mike Zalewski: “I mean, you know that I’m a former federal prosecutor, right?”
Drury then said that he worked on prostitution cases, claimed he rarely speaks of his former job (when he does it all the time) and actually charged that the measure “is a pro child prostitution bill.” Listen…
Drury’s remarks created a huge uproar in the chamber, with Republicans rushing to the Democratic sponsor’s defense and a fellow Democrat rising to ask Zalewski if he knew that she was “not a former federal prosecutor.”
Heh.
* Drury demanded that everyone vote against the bill, but it passed the House with 82 votes, mainly with “targets” voting against it. Proponents said that Drury’s comments likely added 18 votes to the roll call.
Sheesh.
* Runner-up might go to Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton). Last week, Ives spoke against a bill to waive collegiate requirements for certain military veterans applying to become state police officers “notwithstanding any Department of State Police Merit Board rule to the contrary.” The bill passed 109-1.
* Yesterday, Rep. Ives rose to speak about Memorial Day…
“I’d like to just simply add to the others’ remarks by thanking all the veterans’ groups and the individuals and the old soldiers who come out this day and pull out the faded Confederate uniform and plan for the ceremony and prepare remarks and actually hold something so dear to us as a rememberance of those who died.”
Audio…
Confederate uniforms?
This is a Republican legislator speaking in the Illinois House, a body in which Abraham Lincoln once served, and she’s talking about the Confederacy?
As one of Ives’ fellow House Republicans cracked last night, “Will southern DuPage rise again?”
* Rep. Ives was approached on the floor by at least one fellow member who pointed out the Lincoln portrait on the wall and rose later to “clarify” her remarks…
“I inadvertently used the term ‘Confederate’ when I meant to include those who wear the ceremonial Union uniform as well.”
Sigh.
Audio…
Many thanks to my buddy Dave Dahl for the audio files.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:33 am
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This proves that stupidity is bipartisan!
Comment by anon Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:41 am
Drury isn’t the only one who can’t resist mentioning his former job as a prosecutor. Reboletti rarely lets an opportunity go by for the same reminder about himself.
Comment by reformer Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:42 am
How fun would it be to golf with Rep. Ives, Rep. Drury, and Rep. McSweeney?
“As a Federal Prosecutor …”
“You know Confederates, they weren’t trying to weasel their way…”
“Look Oswego Willy, I know you have problems with House Political Senior Staff, you let me know which one you want forced to quit …done. It’s not like the Caucus looks at me diffeerent, I’m ‘honorable’ now …”
“But, Dave, I’m a former federal prosecutor, I know the law …”
“Especially if others are weasels, right, Rep. Drury? I am proud of my stances, even if I sound Dopey …”
Freshmen are so cute at this age …
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:43 am
A pro-child prostitution bill? How did this guy get at job in the Justice Department? Is he someone’s cousin?
Isn’t he the guy who asked the CTA why they didn’t have metal detectors on all buses to detect guns, like they do at airports?
Where does “the faded Confederate uniform” come from, even as a slip of the tongue?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:44 am
Ives “clarification” seems to make it murkier.
If she had said she had mispoken and meant to say “cerimonial” it would have made sense.
One would expect more from a West Point grad speaking of things military, no?
Comment by titan Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:48 am
I’m starting a new group: “Blog Commenters for the Common Good” (or the BCCG for short).
Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:54 am
As you may know I am a scout leader…
But seriously, I have been to several different Memorial Day events, and never have I seen anyone in a Confederate Uniform…
As for Drury’s comments, if I read the law correctly as amended (and I am not a former federal prosecutor) it seems that the issues he brings up are basically illogical and moot, each of those other things are a different charge than the law being changed. The law being changed is specifically for the act of prostitution, not pimping or any of the other acts involving a child (all of which, if they are not felonies need to be). All this changes in terms of what he was speaking of best I can tell if someone was charged with prostitution and pimping or whatever, the prostitution charge alone is not upgraded to a felony.
Am I missing something
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:58 am
Who was the fellow Dem who asked Zalewski if he knew “she was not a former federal prosecutor?” I love that!
Comment by frank Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 9:59 am
I didn’t know the feds prosecuted a lot of prostitution cases, outside of Congress I mean.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:01 am
Both are insufferable and insignificant.
Comment by Adam Smith Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:02 am
I knew Jeanne Ives was anti-union, but this is taking it a little too far.
Comment by Reality Check Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:03 am
@frank - Ann Williams
Comment by Chris Sale Fan Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:05 am
Reality Check @ 10:03 am has the quote of the day!
Comment by cover Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:08 am
Last week GmanJim was in the dopey quote hunt when he wished the services for service members who die in the line of duty to continue for many years to come.
Most hope America gets out of these unneeded wars and we can honor service without remembering any new deaths
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:18 am
I went to law school with Drury. He was a good guy and certainly not full of himself. Hopefully this is a learning experience for him.
Comment by ChicagoR Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:19 am
Madigan, “Let Cross know we will give him Drury for a ’seat to be named later’, IF … Tom keeps Ives… and lets her talk on all ’social’ bills the rest of her term…”
Cross, “Thank the Speaker, but as a former prosecutor myself, I can’t sentence my Caucus to both Drury and Ives. Ask the Speaker if Ives and Drury can be seat mates. Both will talk to the other and neither will listen. I am thinking about the other 116 of us.”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:20 am
=== But seriously, I have been to several different Memorial Day events, and never have I seen anyone in a Confederate Uniform ===
That’s because the Civil War was over 150 years ago and anyone that fought in that War is long dead by now.
Comment by Fred's Mustache Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:20 am
Scott Ives. My favorite post of the year.
Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:33 am
“I knew Jeanne Ives was anti-union, but this is taking it a little too far.”
Maybe my favorite comment of the year.
Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:34 am
I have put a lot of work into becoming the pretentious, insufferable boor that I am; Rep. Drury’s effortless grace in surpassing my hard-earned achievements leaves me in awe. Some people just have the gift, apparently
Comment by Gunderstank Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:35 am
Ives hits on something that has bothered me for a while. It seems odd to me how us northerners barely acknowledge our proud union heritage yet southerners have turned celebration of their history as traitors to the united states into a mainstream cultural phenomenon.
Obviously Ives comments are wacky but does anyone doubt that while just about everyone on the street you encounter would recognize the confederate flag, only a handful of them could probably tell you what GAR means despite those plaques and monuments to the grand army of the republic being found in towns large and small throughout illinois.
I’m sure many just see this as making too much of wacky comments but when one part of the country sentimentally admires a civilization that stole labor from fellow human beings and that same part of the country is the one that seeks to roll back all labor protections for modern workers then that sentimentality toward the confederacy moves away from just kooky or silly to something more problematic.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:37 am
Rich,
You’ve certainly nailed it this this post. These two are, by far, the most disliked members of their respective caucuses. I know folks who’ve pulled Drury aside and tried to help him, but these are sounds he apparently just can’t hear.
Oh, and I think you need to add rim shot functionality to this site because certainly the above comments by 47, Reality Check and Ann Williams (indirectly) deserve them.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:40 am
Reality Check, well played sir!
Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:41 am
Does Ives knows which side is the Confederacy and which is the Union?
We all know that State Reps Stay Crazy Stuff, but that one is just boggling.
Comment by HenryVK Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:42 am
–It seems odd to me how us northerners barely acknowledge our proud union heritage yet southerners have turned celebration of their history as traitors to the united states into a mainstream cultural phenomenon.–
Much of the South has been lying to itself about the Civil War ever since Reconstruction ended.
You have the “War of Northern Aggression” nonsense, but the topper is that the war had nothing to do with slavery.
A quick reading of the rebel states’ declarations of secession as well as contemporary newspapers exposes that lie instantly. Yet it persists, and is taught in Southern schools.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:43 am
=== I didn’t know the feds prosecuted a lot of prostitution cases, outside of Congress I mean. ===
Probably not low-level, local street prostitution, but probably prostitution cases that involve human trafficking.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:45 am
I find Rep. Drury to be so offensive and clueless that I will probably donate to whomever opposes him next time around - from both parties. What a doof.
Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:47 am
I am in NO WAY defending Rep Ives. But, I’ve never understood this attitude about remembering ALL of those who died during the civil war. More than 600,000 men on both sides died fighting that war. You shouldn’t just automatically dismiss the dead because they happened to fight for the Confederacy. I don’t begrudge people for wanting to honor that sacrifice, though I know that some of the motivations for doing so are less than honorable. If it is done correctly I have no problem with it.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 10:52 am
“You know that i used to have a brain, right?”!
What insufferable, self-important puffery, to make a fellow member respond to such dreck.
Credibility is the worth that others assign to your contribution. It is not something you can claim by insisting on it
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:00 am
I find “scott Ives” bashing so addictive it ought to be listed as a controlled substance. I literally can’t help myself from refreshing to see if someone else wants to pile on. I think we need to coin a new word, schadendrury: definition self explanatory
Comment by in the know Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:01 am
Demoralized,
Most countries don’t celebrate people who committed treason.
Comment by HenryVK Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:02 am
===I think we need to coin a new word, schadendrury===
We may also need t-shirts: “I mean, you know that I am NOT a former federal prosecutor, right?”
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:06 am
I love how this thread swings wildly between really funny stuff like Schadendrury and the uber-serious of “people who committed treason”!
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:21 am
=include those who wear the ceremonial Union uniform as well=
So she DID mean to say Confederate. SMH
Comment by Chitownhv Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:27 am
You do know I’m a former Confederate general, don’t you?
Comment by General Lee Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:33 am
In a previous life, I was a former Confederate prosecutor.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:37 am
luv it rich!
Comment by in the know Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:38 am
Knowing that many former officers have a “ceremonial uniform” that they usually pull out only to honor fallen heroes on Memorial Day — I believe the Rep. just misspoke. Most regular enlisted troops never got the fancy duds.
Comment by walkinfool Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:41 am
@demoralized - and your post is exhibit A of the whitewashing of the traitorous confederacy that has been perpetrated by the south for 150 years to the point its practically mainstream at least in rural/conservative circles to be sentimental about a civilization that was not just morally repugnant in enslaving people or offensively traitorous to patriotic sensibilities but also backward in just about every other way imaginable as a civilization in terms of its lack of education, infrastructure and incompetent/inefficient governance.
As for respecting the dead, I don’t think anyone is calling for digging up confederate graves. Just cautioning against historical relativism that would apply the same valor of those who fought to preserve the union and defend the constitution to the conduct of traitors. There’s a reason West Point is no longer Fort Arnold. Its a shame that the US Military did not similarly rename those forts associated with confederate traitors.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:42 am
grace mary stern, shaking her head at young mr.drury.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:49 am
If you start tracking everything an ILGA member says that’s stoopid you’re gonna need a bigger blog.
Comment by DanL60 Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:51 am
I’m bummed to read here about Rep. Drury’s temperament. He had a nice write-up in the Chicago Tribune last month on bills intended to reduce wrongful convictions. (Second sentence: “Drury, a former federal prosecutor, . . .”) Sticking a person in prison for something he/she actually did not do is among the worst things I can imagine. I wish the GA was paying more attention to improving the reliability of the criminal justice system: talking about statistical evidence we could develop — if we wanted — on system errors; whether commonalities emerge from those errors; and steps we might take (for example, Drury’s bills) to reduce the error frequency. Absent a parade of men headed for the death chamber who are determined to be actually innocent, this seems a problem some people would prefer not to think about. I commend Rep. Drury for taking up the issue. Persuading others also to take it up will require time, careful persuasion, and mutual respect.
Comment by Ivory-billed Woodpecker Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 11:57 am
===I commend Rep. Drury for taking up the issue.===
Whatever. Others have also done so this year and Drury has attacked the bill. He is not learning a thing.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:00 pm
==Most countries don’t celebrate people who committed treason. ==
==and your post is exhibit A of the whitewashing of the traitorous confederacy ==
Give me a break. You just exhibited exactly what I was referring to. The war ended a LONG time ago. Let the dead rest in peace. I’m sorry you feel the need to stomp on their graves. Get over yourselves.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:13 pm
“All present with the following exception; Rep. Ives. Rep. Ives is riding into Atlanta today to pay the taxes on ‘Tara’ but will be back within a few days.”
The Clerk’s Office can understand that Rep. Ives misspoke, what IS confusing to the Clerk’s Office is the fact Rep. Ives last four Bills reference “Reconstruction”, “President Johnson” and the “…Patriotic way Ft. Sumner was taken.”
“Although partaking in ‘Adult Beverages’ on the House Floor is at the least frowned upon, a new ‘House Rule’ is being floated that whenever Rep. Drury invokes ‘Former Federal Prosecutor’, alcoholic short drinks must be taken to celebrate the verbage. Opponents of the new ‘House Rule’ point to Case Law, probably and ironically enforced by … a prosecutor, prohibiting the voting on legislation when NOT sober. Rep. Drury, citing his experience AS a Federal Prosecutor plans to speak to the ‘House Rule’ change when, and if, it comes up for a vote”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:15 pm
“House Rule”
Bravo!
Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:20 pm
How does a West Point grad get this wrong?
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:20 pm
“Yet it persists, and is taught in Southern schools.”
This has become a trendysexycontrarian view for hip college students in the North, as well. In more than one of my undergrad classes, whether or not the war was about slavery was a topic of debate. Baffling.
Comment by Then again... Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:21 pm
I probably should have added (while I was up on my soap box) that what Rep. Ives said is beyond weird. Why confederal soldiers was going through her head when speaking of Memorial Day, and the fact that she has made some other kooky comments (i.e. those gay weasles), tells me she is a bit “out there” in terms of her thinking. And here attempt at correcting her statement is about as bad as her attempt at trying to correct her “weasle” statement.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:27 pm
Attention. Attention.
The “Scott Ives” Golf Outing.
Sponsored by the Daughters of the Confederacy.
Held on the Last Monday of April, 2014.
Proceeds going to the “Former Federal Prosecutors Home for the Oblivious.”
Gray Golf Shirts and 1 sleeve of Listening Devices shaped as golf balls will be given upon the donation.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:36 pm
@shore VERY well said
@ivory woodpecker. IF he weren’t such a pompous … he’d have PASSED some of those reforms you referenced. he so offended the most progressive members of the committees that his bills failed in the most progressive committee in the house, and his testimony in the senate committee killed off his bills amongst senate democrats! his allies like the better government association won’t work with him again. he actually said that a bill by sen. Raoul which would expand videotaping to all felonies on a voluntary basis, would “cause more wrongful convictions”. so according to him, rep. zalewski wants to protect child rapists and sen. Raoul wants to promote wrongful convictions. there is nothing commendable here……
Comment by in the know Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:39 pm
===there is nothing commendable here===
I couldn’t agree more. Best comment on the thread so far.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:42 pm
@demoralized - that the war happened a long time ago is precisely why its important to freshly acknowledge and continually remember the horrors unleashed by the rotten bankrupt ideologies of the confederacy. So that people like jeanne ives (or the new “war of northern aggression” nra president) don’t get away with rewriting history and making lincolns death for nothing.
The second that fools like ives stop talking of the confederacy with sentimentality is the second the confederate dead really get to rest in peace.
Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 12:43 pm
Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, interesting that you mentioned Drury’s wrongful conviction bill. I watched him present that house bill in the Senate Criminal Law committee. First, it was odd that he presented the bill to a senate committee while the senate sponsor (Kwame Raoul) said next to nothing. Second, not only did he come off as smug and condescending, he took a couple of shots at local state’s attorneys — not a real smart move with Bill Haine and a few other former ASA’s sitting on the committee. Haine lit him up, and the bill was voted down by the committee. The guy needs to pick up a copy of “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”
Comment by Tom S. Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 1:14 pm
“Scott Ives” golf outing, last Monday of April 2014…
OW, are you sure that’s not being held on April 1st? I believe that would be a more relevant date for these two.
Comment by cover Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 1:44 pm
I don’t know, OW, the phrase “former federal prosecutor” seems too long to replace “Hi, Bob!”
Comment by cover Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 1:46 pm
Freshman rise or sink on the following;
Understanding the criticism they receive is two fold…
To underscore whatever Dopey thing you are doing is not considered “good form”…
…and to teach a lesson that can be learned so as you grow, you become better as a legislator and colleague.
If you are a Freshman, and have no intention to take teaching moments to become better in both of those catagories, then not too many people will be pulling for you to win again, and not too many are going to be sad to see you go.
The General Assembly, at times, is like Junoir High School… not senior high … Junior High… those willing to elevate that bottom denominator are called the “leaders of the Chambers”, even if they don’t have a title that says it.
What I always found humorous was when the “light bulb” went on and a Dem Freshman says, “you know, ’so and so’, a Republican is a really good person”, or ” you aren’t going to believe this but ‘X’, the Democrat, I had lunch with them, we are not that different.”
Take those people skills, as an adult, back to Junior High.
Find a Mentor, Ives and Drury.
Listen to them. It helps.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 1:46 pm
–How does a West Point grad get this wrong?–
Well, there were quite a few West Point grads in the Confederate Army, lol. Lee was the former superintendent at West Point.
Off on a tangent, I picked up Chris DeRose’s book, “Congressman Lincoln: The Making of America Greatest’s President” over the weekend.
Interesting fact:
Members of the special joint House/Senate committee to plan Pres. JQ Adams funeral included Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Andrew Johnson, Hannibal Hamlin and Alexander Stephens — all later presidents and vice-presidents, in their own way.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 1:52 pm
Drury isn’t the first human being to get a new job and have adjustments and ives is not the first to make a comment. It’s whether this behavior returns in the fall.
Comment by shore Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 2:08 pm
- shore -,
With respect, this is not the first time for either of them.
Drury’s smugness, and the distain Drury seems to have to the process of being a legislator, and how Drury treats and interacts with his colleagues is disappointing, even for a “Former Federal Prosecutor”
To that, anyone reciting their resume to make a point is either afraid others do not see them as capable, or they, themselves, do not see themselves up to the task, or both. The smugness and contempt Drury shows towards his colleagues reeks of something along those lines, or Drury is the most Oblivious Legislator in a generation.
As for Ives, (”Weasel their way”, “soldier” equates legislator, and “Confederate”) the mis-speaks are just awful, but the utter ignorance of how to either apologize or clairify makes Ives lacking self-awareness, or incapable of understading that when she speaks, people take note, so choose words carefully, and mean what you say…. when you are saying what you mean.
Ives, Drury… get Mentors…the horse is out of the barn, but maybe you can corral your image if you understand you need to do so.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 2:23 pm
Word, DeRose’s book was a good read. Interesting to think of the parallels between the insistence upon ideological purity which led to the demise of the Whig Party as described in the book and the what is occurring now to the Republican Party.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 2:44 pm
Has anyone been to Drury’s office? His desk faces the window so that his back to is to the door. Very welcoming to constituents who may want to visit with their elected official.
Comment by WizzardOfOzzie Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 2:46 pm
–Obviously Ives comments are wacky but does anyone doubt that while just about everyone on the street you encounter would recognize the confederate flag, only a handful of them could probably tell you what GAR means despite those plaques and monuments to the grand army of the republic being found in towns large and small throughout illinois.–
The Grand Army of the Republic Room on the top floor of the Cultural Center on Michigan and Randolph is one of the great public spaces in Chicago.
In all the public parks in Oak Park, you can find a stone with a plaque honoring those that served in the Spanish-American War, the Phillipine Insurrection (we all remember that), the Boxer Rebellion and the Great War.
The idea that in 1900, young men from Oak Park took the trains to San Francisco, sailed to and invaded Shanghai, marched inland and scaled the walls of The Forbidden City is fascinating history.
The idea that in 2013 young men and women from Oak Park, River Forest, Berwyn, Elmwood Park, Melrose Park, Cicero, etc., are still getting blown up in Afghanistan is a stupid tragedy.
The idea, that after we stumbled into a civil war in Libya and allied ourselves with Al-Quada, that we even consider aligning ourselves with Al-Quada, again, in Syria is in indictment on the bankruptcy of the chatterbox War-Fever cable TV class in DC.
There are no good guys worth sacrificing our children in that part of the world. The folks there are going to have to work it out on their own, in their own time. Back off, keep the powder dry and stop looking for dragons to slay.
Lot of work to do at home.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 2:57 pm
–Word, DeRose’s book was a good read. Interesting to think of the parallels between the insistence upon ideological purity which led to the demise of the Whig Party as described in the book and the what is occurring now to the Republican Party.–
Norseman, I read anything and everything on Lincoln and the Civil War.
I keep digging deeper now into the lives and times of JQ Adams, Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, Daniel Webster and John Calhoun. Fascinating times, and obviously they set the table for the real revolution that came in 1861.
By the way, Norseman, never asked you: Snakke de Norsk? Where are your peeps from?
My parents came from Stavanger in the 50s, before they shut down Ellis Island.
Before that, one of my grandfathers had to hightail it out of Norway and worked at the docks in Brooklyn, a farm in Sycamore, a U.S. Steel plant in DeKalb and a ranch in Wyoming.
He went back to Norway after the heat was off and his old man died, so he got the farm, lol.
There’s a Stavanger in, I believe, Lee County and a Norway in LaSalle County. Look for the stone plaque and Old Style sign and you’ll find them.
The old-timey immigrants loved that Illinois flat land and Mr. Deere’s plow, lol.
That’s my old stomping grounds, so I went there with my family when King Olav visited when I was a kid.
Olav, a grandchild of Queen Victoria, was so inbred that LBJ said “I didn’t that know they made kings that dumb.”
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 3:57 pm
===…Norway in LaSalle County.===
There is indeed, beyond Oswego, beyond Yorkville, on your way to I-80 on Route 71.
They have a gas station on 71 that is a “must stop” and it embraces Norway well.
There are 2 markers, I think, and a Norway Cemetery, if you are going to do the whole tour.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 4:01 pm
I am not a former Federal prosecutor.
But I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Comment by titan Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 4:34 pm
Prostitution, drugs, gambling. Victimless crimes all. Time to let adults lead their lives without senseless government interference. Regulate, tax, and get the hell out of the way. We learned nothing from the disastrous history of alcohol prohibition. The moral meddlers are still at it.
Comment by wishbone Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 4:49 pm
Word,
My Paternal great-grandparents were traced back to Ryssby, a locality situated in Ljungby Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden. Both immigrated in June 1884, but arrived on two separate ships a couple of weeks apart. They settled in DeKalb County.
My Maternal 2nd great-grandparents were traced back to Skånevik, Hordaland County, Norway. They immigrated during the summer of 1867. They departed from Stavanger.
They settled in Kendall County - Newark and then Yorkville. Not far from Willy’s Oswego.
Your history is more interesting than mine. I was intrigued by your WW2 story. I just enjoyed Kringlas and Lefse way too much as a kid. I developed my hatred of fish upon smelling the Lutefisk served by my grandmother to my parents, Uff Da. One of my favorite memories of my grandfather was attending the Sons of Norway meetings with him in Aurora.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 5:24 pm
I miss Represenative Karen May!
Comment by richyrich Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 7:58 pm
We are so blessed to have these two wonderful folks deciding our laws.
Comment by Lotta Liaison Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 8:08 pm
Word — Just to be clear, I am keenly aware that many Confederate officers were West Point grads. (Soccermom’s great-great-great-grandpappy was fighting for the Union while your folks were still gorging themselves on lutfisk back in the old country.) My question was, don’t the history professors at West Point occasionally discuss the differences between the Union and the Confederacy? Seems like an oversight…
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 8:12 pm
Drury’s website has a drop-down box entitled “Career as a Prosecutor.”
Comment by Lotta Liaison Tuesday, May 28, 13 @ 8:15 pm