Rosemary's Risky Business!

Note -- PRU will be coloring a bit outside the lines today, but when garbage like this lands in the mailboxes of unsuspecting Park Ridge residents, we can't resist.



The PRU Crew was doing some after-election reading and ran across this on a dailyherald.com blog called 'Animal Farm' -- which by the by we think is a pretty great name for a political blog.

Blog author JP wrote the post which contains the following quote from State Representative Rosemary Mulligan: “I had my people ready to vote for McCain. Then they put Palin on (the ticket) and they look and me and say, ‘What do you want me to do now?’” (sic)

We guess Rosemary had a "eureka" moment while searching her soul for an answer, and then she had her campaign and political operatives mail out the following, which some faithful PRU readers and Park Ridge residents were kind enough to send us --












We know who "Citizens for Rosemary Mulligan" are, but we had never heard of the "Independent Campaign Committee." So, we looked them up. And we still aren't too sure about who they are, but if they're sending out political mail with Obama's picture on it, we're willing to take a wildass guess that they're probably on the liberal side of the aisle.

And as long as we were digging around the Illinois State Board of Elections Campaign Disclosure website, we decided to take a look at Rosemary's disclosure filings too -- to see if Rosemary had declared an in-kind contribution from the "Independent Campaign Committee", who were kind enough to inform the voters of Park Ridge of Rosemary's political similitude to Barack Obama.

We found that the $84,058.76 Rosemary reported in in-kind contributions came from three sources:

1 -- the Illinois Republican Party gave Rosemary $30,607.84

2 -- the House Republican Organization gave Rosemary $26,144.88

3 -- Personal PAC gave Rosemary $27,306.04

Personal PAC gave more in-kind moola to Mulligan than the House Republican Organization. And can anybody guess who is largely responsible for funding Personal PAC? We'll give you a hint -- the label starts with a capital "D" and ends in "emocrats."

For those of you not familiar with who Personal PAC is, they bill themselves as "a bi-partisan political action committee dedicated to electing pro-choice candidates to state and local office in Illinois." And from what we can tell, they do conduct themselves in a bi-partisan way. But one of our faithful PRU readers is of the opinion that Personal PAC will bend over backwards to ruthlessly endorse pro-choice Republicans because there aren't all that many currently holding office -- and Personal PAC needs to maintain the appearance of bi-partisanship.

Welcome people to a taste of the more local version of what columnist John Kass calls "the Combine."

What the PRU Crew believes is that politicians have long understood partisan politics only really matters to ignorant voters that can't be bothered to pay attention, and easy labels are a useful tool for confronting the ignorant. So we strongly suggest that the next time somebody like Rosemary's Political Baby tries to play you for a fool, short-hand the discussion, and warn you that he's the only thing holding back the marauding Democrat horde from invading Park Ridge, tell Rosemary's Political Baby they're already here and they helped get Rosemary re-elected.

Freewheeling!

Our congratulations to the winners.
Our condolences to the losers.

We're glad the frenzied federal election season has come to a close.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Yeah, that should work.

Mayor Howard Frimark described his recent Road Trip! to Washington, D.C. as a "success". We feel he must have been talking about the miracle of flight and his plane landing safely at O'Hare. Other than that, we're not sure what about the trip could be described as a "success".

Having allowed requests for Federal grant funds to languish for two years, Mayor Frimark finally decided to "follow-up" on Park Ridge's grant requests by hitting the road to D.C., along with City Manager Tim Schuenke, and Director of Economic Development Kim Uhlig; insisting that they must talk with Federal legislators on "their turf"."

After Frimark's having spent time and effort smearing Schakowsky locally, of the three Federal legislators Frimark promised to meet with, it was only Schakowsky who made herself available to Frimark and his team. Mayor Frimark was un-successful in arranging meetings with either Durbin or Obama, on any turf.

Upon the Mayor's "successful" return, he acknowledged that Schakowsky told him "all the appropriation money for this year is already gone." Nothing like checking and planning ahead there Mr. Mayor!

Of course the Mayor would never pass up an opportunity to be gracious himself and, as reported in last week's Journal & Topics, he told a reporter of his meeting with Schakowsky, "Unfortunately, we haven't gotten anything at all from her."

So let's see now, the only Federal legislator who made time to meet with the Mayor, instead of passing him off to staffers, gets a sour grapefruit in the face upon his "successful" return.

Yeah, that should work as a step in the right direction to "position the city" for a portion of that "large appropriations bill" in 2009.

D'oh!

Every other month, the residents of Park Ridge receive a copy of the city's newsletter: the Spokesman, and the October issues have arrived!

As usual, this month's Spokesman includes a message from the Mayor. You must know how much we love that!

As usual, this mayoral installment is a gem! Should you be one of the tortured few who has been paying attention to the history and background of all that is contained in the Mayor's address, you should be particularly amused!

Back in September we told you about the Mayor's Road Trip! In this month's issue of the Spokesman, the mayor explains that he, along with the City Manager (Tim Schuenke) and Director of Economic Development (Kim Uhlig) are traveling to Washington, D.C. so they can "confer with our Federal Legislators on their turf". That sounds so tough and romantic, doesn't it? Like three young and idealistic friends off to the big city to try to get into show business - hoping for their big break!

Except "the turf" of those Federal Legislators is right back here in Illinois, where all three of those legislators have offices, and one of those legislators, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, has an office right here in Park Ridge.

You see, Federal Legislators go to Washington, D.C. to conduct the business (we use the term loosely) of government. They go to Washington, D.C. to work, and spar, and jockey and joust, and debate issues with each other on behalf of our nation, but also and often more importantly on behalf of their constituents back home living on their turf...on their home turf. If there is one thing Federal Legislators understand, it's where they come from.

Instead of just telling our Federal Legislators there in Washington, D.C. about what is wanted back here in Park Ridge, the Mayor, City Manager, and Economic Development Director could have asked all of our Federal Legislators to actually spend some time here when they were in town, hearing and seeing for themselves what is wanted here, for the the people of Park Ridge. The Mayor, City Manager and Economic Development Director could have taken our Federal Legislators on a guided tour of Park Ridge to see and be seen, here, in Park Ridge. Federal Legislators live for those kinds of "I feel your pain" photo ops! Just like the one Mayor Tony Arredia of Des Plaines conducted for Dick Durbin when he was in town a couple of weeks ago.

And let's not forget that Federal Legislator, Barack Obama, is conducting a presidential primary campaign. Surely he would "feel our pain" if he were to be invited back to his home turf to do so.

The Mayor could also have asked another of those Federal Legislators, Jan Schakowsky, to stop by his home for a quick cup of coffee last weekend; Schakowsky was literally up the block from the Mayor's home, here, in Park Ridge on Saturday working on behalf of two local Park Ridge residents who are candidates for office. And here's another free clue just for Mayor Frimark; he could have looked like a confident, bridge-building, 'I can work with anyone to advocate for the good of Park Ridge' kind of Mayor.

But then, there's not much that is tough and romantic in a story about coffee and conversation. You won't get any press coverage out of that either.

Still, we hope the Mayor's trip brings home more than just the bills to Park Ridge taxpayers for the costs of hotel accommodations, transportation, and meals.

Road Trip!

Frimark Will Lead Team To D.C. In Search Of Cash

Mayor Howard Frimark will lead a team on a trip to Washington, D.C., in October seeking federal money for several projects.

"We're following up on a list we've submitted over the last two years," he explained. He, Director of Economic Development Kim Uhlig, and City Manager Tim Schuenke plan the trip for Oct. 2-3.

The team hopes to meet with U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-9th) as well as U.S. senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin.

We've heard that the wheels of government turn slowly, and now we know why - "following up" takes two years.

We could have loaned the mayor our map of Chicago so he could have found these three elected officials' local offices some time during the last two years, but...

You see folks, it's like this...

A headline that reads "Frimark Will Lead Team to Chicago In Search of Cash" just doesn't have that same adventurous ring! Particularly when a significant portion of the Park Ridge population makes the same trip every day of the work week.

Hey Howard, you might want to go low key when you ask Schakowsky for money for Park Ridge. She may remember you used her to smear your opponent during your mayoral campaign, because your opponent received a modest campaign contribution from her - the same amount you received this past March from Jack Owens, Norwood's former variance czar. You wouldn't want Schakowsky to think you are some kind of ass, since now it is you who is asking her for money.

Guest Essay.

We do not agree with everything this author has to say, but we thought it was a good read.

We are baffled by the lack of coverage in the local press on the illegal immigration issue and Park Ridge based, Koch Foods. Then again, the Sun-Times mandated formula for local rags rarely allows for coverage that does not reflect well on big business.

Thank you to our special buddy who forwarded this piece for us to read.

Happy Labor Day.

--------------------
LABOR DAY
03-Sep-07
By David Podvin

Another Labor Day has arrived, making it the perfect time to examine how American workers are victimized by those who pledge friendship. Conservatives never betray laborers, if only because it is impossible to betray people you openly despise. It is progressives who seduce the working class with false promises of fidelity.

In recent decades, American workers have seen their wages steadily lose ground to inflation while the monied elite have prospered. The national distribution of wealth now skews higher than ever, the byproduct of tax policies and trade agreements and illegal immigration. Conservatives have faithfully promoted the interests of the GOP’s aristocratic benefactors while liberals have failed to represent the peasants who vote Democratic.

When the Democrats took control of Congress, new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proclaimed that working people had won a great victory. Thus far, that victory has yielded a largely symbolic minimum wage increase benefiting entry level service industry employees and few others. The Democratic Congress refuses to consider repealing the Bush tax cut that provided the upper class with cash and the working class with debt. The Democrats still support trade agreements that encourage business to replace American blue collar workers with foreign slave labor.

Then there is illegal immigration, the means by which Corporate America is repealing the labor gains of the last century. Undocumented workers do not qualify for minimum wages or medical benefits or pensions or humane working conditions or the right to organize. They possess no rights, which is why business wants them here. The Democrats want them here on the theory that today’s illegal alien is tomorrow’s liberal voter. Consequently, scheming Democratic politicians support immigration reform that will lure countless additional illegal aliens to take the jobs of loyal working class Democrats. Making matters worse, progressives smear as “xenophobic” those who view illegal immigration as a threat to the Democratic base.

Cesar Chavez viewed illegal immigration as the mortal enemy of the Hispanic American workers he spent his life defending. Chavez demanded that the Immigration And Naturalization Service deport undocumented laborers to shield lower income Americans from unfair competition. He defined illegal immigration as racketeering perpetrated by thuggish corporations.

Forty years later there has finally been a federal racketeering suit filed on behalf of the people Chavez loved. The plaintiffs are eighteen Hispanic Americans who earned twenty dollars an hour before losing their jobs to eighteen Hispanic illegal aliens who earn thirteen dollars an hour. With that illicit act, the Swift Company slashed wages in the meatpacking industry by thirty-five percent and eliminated worker benefits. As Chavez had warned, illegal immigration is crippling the working class.

Cesar Chavez was not xenophobic. He was a champion for Hispanic American laborers who are now without a champion. In fact, all American workers lack someone to fight on their behalf. Like the Democratic Party, labor unions welcome illegal immigration as a valuable source of new membership…. current membership be damned. Battered by decades of an increasingly hostile political environment, unions are more preoccupied with survival than with protecting the rank and file.

The upcoming presidential election will not provide workers with the chance to elect the advocate they desperately need. The Republican Party continues to view the working class as financial prey. The GOP presidential candidates are corporate functionaries who insist that the answer is to transfer wealth upwards, irrespective of what the question may be.

The Democratic candidates are marginally better, if “better” is the appropriate term to describe people who betray their supporters. Whenever Hillary Clinton triangulates (which is more often than not), the interests of her voters are sacrificed to benefit her ambition. Since entering the Senate, Hillary has been busy finding common cause with munitions manufacturers who desire war and media moguls who crave deregulation. Attending to these priorities has left Ms. Clinton without time to help the poor working slobs who elected her.

The relevant characteristic of Barack Obama is not that he is black but that he is so very eager to ream working class blacks. The senator supported the misnamed “Bankruptcy Reform Bill” that redistributed vast sums to corporations from lower income wage earners who are disproportionately African American. Inspirational rhetoric notwithstanding, the only black people who matter to Senator Obama eat lunch in the executive dining room.

Al Gore is the one politician who could lead the United States towards a more just economic system. When he ran in 2000 Gore courageously laid it on the line, framing the debate as “the people versus the powerful”. He declared that the federal government should actively promote the economic interests of the common citizen. When Corporate America concluded that Gore was actually sincere its media subsidiaries conducted the journalistic equivalent of carpet bombing the Democratic nominee. Thanks to populism’s enormous appeal Gore won the election anyway, but then his victory was nullified by the business wing of the United States Supreme Court.

That corporate coup d’état has been devastating to working Americans. The Bush administration has accumulated massive debt while reducing upper income tax rates, leaving John Q. Public with a staggering financial liability. Illegal immigration has increased, and the exodus of manufacturing plants has accelerated. The prohibitively expensive Iraq War impoverishes the average taxpayer as it enriches the average conglomerate.

Bush is just doing what Republicans do, which is to whore for Big Business. Democrats are supposed to stop them, but this is the part of the script that has apparently gotten smudged. The guys in the black hats are still very bad, but the guys in the white hats are no longer very good. The faithless Democratic Party has helped conservatives do Corporate America’s bidding, even confirming business acolytes John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. As a result, if Gore sought and won the presidency again the corporatists would be well positioned to steal it from him again.

In all likelihood, Al Gore will not seek the presidency. Understandably, he is reluctant to experience another agonizing campaign in which triumph morphs into defeat . The man whom Americans elected their president seven years ago cares deeply about workers, but not deeply enough to endure the considerable grief that accompanies being their standard bearer.

And so, the working people of the United States are screwed. One major political party relentlessly abuses them, as does the other major political party. There is no organized movement to alter the unacceptable status quo. There is no white knight to fend off the robber barons. There is only the awesome power of the Fortune 500, a power so vast that business has already won the next presidential election. That means the average citizen has already lost, which means for working class Americans a bad situation is going to get worse.

Happy Labor Day!