Chicago Tribune endorses Brady

Chicago Tribune endorses Brady

Money For Nothing

Money For Nothing
Mark Knockoffler sings the ObamaCare blues with his band Dem Strait

Obama's Space Policy is "Drivel"

"Former NASA administrator Michael Griffin takes strong exception to most of President Obama's proposed space exploration policy, disagreeing with the major points and calling much of it "drivel."

Illinois Debt

Make Illinois work for the people, not the politicians.
Brady doesn't want Illinois democrats to dig a deeper hole.

Escalating Chavez threat

Experts warn of escalating Chavez threat

...Chavez’s strategy was to build allies in the United States by offering low-cost heating oil to lower-income Americans through Joseph Kennedy Jr. and his Citizens Energy nonprofit, in the hopes that security-conscious voices would be drowned out.

“My favorite Chavez quote is, ‘I will put my enemy to sleep, so that one day he will wake up dead,’” said Jon Perdue, Latin American programs director at the Fund for American Studies....

Dial Joe-4-Chávez

Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chávez is an ally of the Iranian mullahs, a supporter of North Korea, a close friend of Fidel Castro and a good customer for Vladimir Putin's weapon factories. Now (since 2006) he's also a business partner of Joseph P. Kennedy II....

What new control tax is next?

Note to sweet tea and soda drinkers who are also anti-smokers:

When the dot gov do-gooders came after my tobacco and taxed it to both cut use AND raise revenue, you didn't care, and it seemed like a great idea to you, considering that you couldn't bring yourself to realize that the slippery slope of government intervention in personal matters loomed ahead.

Sweetened drink taxes are the new "sin taxes" of today. What will the next target be? Will you care?

Family and Personal Protection Act 2010

Here are two Illinois House Bills to watch for concealed carry permits in Illinois. HB462 and HB6249.

Bill Status of HB0462 96th General Assembly
Hearing scheduled:
Agriculture & Conservation Committee Hearing Mar 9 2010 2:00PM Capitol Building Room 122B Springfield, IL - House Floor Amendment 1

Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Permits the county sheriff to issue permits to carry concealed firearms to persons at least 21 years of age who meet certain requirements. Requires an applicant for a permit to have completed specified training requirements developed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board consisting of classroom instruction and live firing exercises. Preempts home rule. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act and the Criminal Code of 1961 to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.
House Sponsors
Rep. Brandon W. Phelps - David Reis - Patrick J. Verschoore - John D. Cavaletto, Shane Cultra, Bill Mitchell, Mike Bost, Ron Stephens, Robert F. Flider, Paul D. Froehlich and Daniel V. Beiser

And the following similar bill, with issuance of permits by ISP rather than County Sheriffs.

Bill Status of HB6249 96th General Assembly

Short Description: FIREARMS-CONCEALED-PERMITS

Synopsis As Introduced

Creates the Family and Personal Protection Act. Establishes statewide uniform standards for the issuance of permits to carry concealed firearms in this State. Vests in the Department of State Police the authority to issue concealed firearms permits to qualified applicants. Requires an applicant to complete a training course in handgun use, safety, and marksmanship. Also requires instruction in the law relating to firearm use. Creates the Citizen Safety and Self-Defense Trust Fund administered by the Department. The moneys in the Fund shall be used to administer the Act. Establishes restrictions on carrying concealed firearms. Establishes standards for the training course and for certifying instructors. Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that the Family and Personal Protection Act supersedes an ordinance of a unit of local government inconsistent with that Act. Prohibits a home rule unit from regulating the issuance of permits to carry concealed firearms. Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Exempts, from an unlawful use of weapons and aggravated unlawful use of weapons violation, persons who carry or possess firearms in accordance with the Family and Personal Protection Act. Effective immediately.

House Sponsors

Rep. John E. Bradley - Paul D. Froehlich

Mission to Nowhere

The President's Take on NASA's Future: Mission to Nowhere

Tom Jones, Astronaut:

"...The cancellation of Constellation without clear endorsement of a goal to send humans on a date certain into deep space postpones the promise of the future for the brightest of our young scientists and engineers. The space talent pool will begin emptying today, as promising innovators seek careers in other industries. What student would pursue a career in space science or astronautics with the knowledge that the country is turning away from leadership in space..."

Venezuelan Security Threat

"...Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is engaged in a deliberate policy aimed at weakening the Colombian state by strengthening drug trafficking...."

Latin America in American national security
The Americas Report - Jan 08, 2010
By Luis Fleischman