Breen should resign from West Suburban Patriots...or withdraw from Illinois House District 48 race

Posted by Walt Zlotow 

Come on Pete...stand up for decency

A previous post revealed that GOP candidate for the Illinois House 48th District race, Pete Breen, is a member of a West Suburban Patriots, an extremist conservative organization based in DuPage County and affiliated with the national Tea Party dedicated to an anti government agenda. Inspired and funded by ultra conservative GOP billionaires such as the Koch Brothers and GOP political operatives such as former GOP House leader Dick Armey, Tea Party groups are corrected designated by normal folks as "AstroTurf" rather than "grass roots" since they're anything but a ground up organization working for progressive change. They spearheaded the economically and socially harmful government shutdown, and are ferocious in demonizing and delegitimizing the presidency of the first bi-racial president. Tea Party rallies after his incomprehensible (to them) election, featured the president caricatured as a monkey or an American incarnation of Hitler. Check out the blog link on their website http://westsuburbanpatriots.ning.com/ for more of the excerpts listed below: 

West Suburban Patriots

an independent Tea Party group in DuPage County, IL

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Is It Time to Conquer the H-word Taboo Before It Conquers Us? (Revised)

•Posted by Jeff Glock on July 19, 2013 at 8:02pm

•View Blog

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One wonders at the many similarities between President Obama’s head-long drive to a one-party State and the rise of the Third Reich. During Hitler’s regime, British writer C.S. Lewis made the observation, “How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different the saints.” This comes about not because tyrants study and learn from each other, but because that’s just what kind of people they are. For whatever reasons, a tyrant instinctively knows how to manipulate and control people.

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Then:

“That is the miracle of our times: That you found me among so many millions. And that I found you is Germany’s fortune.”

Adolph Hitler, September 1936

Now: 

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

Barack Obama, February 2008

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Then:

The phrase “working toward the Fuhrer” was first used in a February 21, 1934 speech by Werner Willikens, Germany’s State Secretary in the Ministry of Food. It refers to the phenomenon whereby the leader makes his wishes known, and then the administrative branch follows through without direct orders. This serves to fundamentally transform (sound familiar?) an entire society very quickly, while insulating the leader from responsibility for what goes wrong. It also partly explains how a person who spent a lot of time in cafes, napping, and watching movies could accomplish so much.

Now: 

Similarly, President Obama is no workaholic. He loves to golf, go on extensive vacations, and host parties. And he has been on the road in campaign mode during his entire Presidency. So who is “working toward the President?” May I suggest the following: IRS, EPA, DHS, HHS, DOJ, DOD, NSA, DOE, NEA, union thugs, Occupy thugs, ACORN thugs, New Black Panther thugs, and just recently, the nation’s librarians and Obamacare Healthcare Exchange thugs.

This is reprehensible, hateful nonsense that tears at our fragile political and social fabric. It has no place in any decent organization, much less one ascribed to by a candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives. If the Peter Breen of Lombard, listed on their membership roster and congratulated as a new member, is the same Peter Breen of Lombard running to be our District 48 state representative, he should do the right thing: cancel his West Suburban Patriots' membership or withdraw from the Illinois House District 48 race. 

Fixing the Electoral College

New York Joins Pact to Elect President by Popular Vote  

New York has become the latest state to join an agreement that would transform the U.S. presidential election. Under the compact for a National Popular Vote, states across the country have pledged to award their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote. If enough states sign on, it would guarantee the presidency goes to the candidate with the most votes nationwide. This would prevent scenarios like what happened in 2000, when Al Gore won the popular vote but still lost the election to George W. Bush. The compact will kick in only when enough states have signed on to reach a threshold of 270 electoral votes. By adding its 29 electoral votes, New York joins those already pledged by nine other states and Washington, D.C. We are joined by New Yorker staff writer Hendrik Hertzberg, an advocate of the national popular vote and a board member of the electoral reform organization Fair Vote.  To Read More: http://www.democracynow.org/2014/4/17/fixing_the_electoral_college_new_york

Podcast: NRA has met its match: Moms

Huge news: on April 18, Michael Bloomberg announced that he'll spend $50 million this year on political campaigning for gun reform. That's more than the NRA will spend on campaigning against it.

The strategy: To save lives, mobilize moms.  

Today, we're releasing an interview with the supermom in charge: Shannon Watts, head of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America—which is essentially the Mothers Against Drunk Driving of gun violence. She's a mother of five, a force-of-nature communicator, and the NRA's worst nightmare. 

Hear how mom-activists are taking on the gun lobby: Click here to open the "Good Fight" podcast on iTunes! (And if you like it, be sure to subscribe and post a review!) 

Defend Liberty Gun Giveaway

The Hottest Conservative Campaign Gimmick of 2014: Free Guns  You get a carbine! You get a carbine! You get a carbine!  By Tim Murphy | Wed Apr. 16, 2014 3:00 AM PDT

              Bright for Senate 

Ron Paul announced recently that he is giving away a gun because "there can be no liberty without the ability to defend it." As part of its "Defend Liberty Gun Giveaway," one lucky donor to the former Texas congressman's organization, Campaign for Liberty, will receive a DDM4 AR-15. But Paul isn't alone. More than a dozen candidates for national and local office have offered up free firearms to their supporters during the 2014 election cycle, with gifts ranging from pistols to shotguns to an AR-15 customized by the gubernatorial candidate himself. It's the year's hottest conservative campaign gimmick.

While candidates may be exploiting right-wing fears of an impending Obama firearm confiscation,....To Read More: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/04/ron-paul-paul-broun-gun-giveaway

Senator without a Rearview Mirror

Senator Orrin Hatch Slams Democrats For Wanting To Do What Senator Orrin Hatch Did In 2003

By Ian Millhiser on April 12, 2014 at 12:15 pm

Rolling back the Senate’s so-called “blue slip process” would be “disastrous,” according to an op-ed written by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on Friday. Which is somewhat of a surprising position for Hatch to take, since he largely abandoned this blue slip process in 2003.

Though enforcement of the blue slip process has varied since it was created in 1917 — for many years it largely just allowed home state senators to advise the Judiciary Committee of their views of a judicial nominee — it has, at times, permitted a home state senator to veto anyone nominated to a federal judgeship in their state. At some points in the Senate’s history, including right now under Senate Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the chair of the Judiciary Committee would refuse to schedule a confirmation hearing on a judicial nominee if one or both of the nominee’s home-state senators objected to them. 

In 2003, however, when Hatch became Judiciary chair and George W. Bush was president...

Read More: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/04/12/3426035/senator-orrin-hatch-slams-democrats-for-wanting-to-do-what-senator-orrin-hatch-did-in-2003/

A Message From Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth  In April 2013, severe flooding devastated communities in the 8th District. Our neighbors suffered a great deal from the flooding and I want to make sure that we are all prepared in the event of future flooding.     In order to make sure you stay safe during heavy rains and floods, my office has made the following resources available to you:     Information for Property Owners  National Flood Insurance Program  NFIP Flood Hazard Mapping  FEMA Grant Information  Get Flood Smart                                               This year, I voted for H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Accountability Act, which passed the House of Representatives. The bipartisan legislation helps protect homeowners from increasing flood insurance premiums, allows  “grandfathered” flood insurance rates to remain in place for certain residences, and calls for refunds to individuals who have paid excess premium charges.     While we hope that flooding won’t affect our communities this spring, we need to make sure that we are prepared. In Washington, I am taking steps to ensure that homeowners are protected and our communities have the necessary infrastructure in place to combat floods. I encourage you to reach out to my District Office at (847) 413-1959 if you have any questions or concerns.  Sincerely, Tammy Duckworth Member of Congress About Me | Services | Contact Me Connect with Me

ACA reaches 8 million (not including another 11M). Sign to thank the President

President Obama just announced some GREAT news: The Affordable Care Act has reached 8 million Americans signed up for affordable, quality, private health insurance!!! It’s been a long road, and President Obama's faced ugly obstruction from Republicans every step of the way. But he kept on fighting to make this incredible day a possibility. For that, we want to say thanks: Will you click here to automatically sign your name and thank President Obama for making the Affordable Care Act a success? Those 8 million sign-ups don’t even include: 3 million young adults who were able to stay on their parents’ plan. 3 million more people enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. 5 million people on ACA plans bought outside the Marketplace. And here’s one more fun fact to share with all those Republican Obamacare-haters out there: 35% of sign-ups on the Marketplace are under 35 years old, and 28% are between 18 and 34 years old -- virtually the same percentage seen under Romneycare. So if you want to thank President Obama for standing up for us, today's the day to do it! SIGN YOUR NAME: http://dccc.org/8-million

Chairman Peickert wins fourth term with 61% of the vote

DPDC Election of Officers - Bob Peickert won re-election for his 4th term as chair of the Democratic Party of DuPage County. Also elected was Rose Fitzpatrick for 1st Vice-Chair and Bob Jeffers for Treasurer. Peickert was challenged by Bill Habel, Naperville precinct committeeman. 

In an interview on Thursday, Peickert said, "Bill Habel is a Democrat and I'm sure that he will step up and work with the elected leaders and help elect Democrats in 2014." Peickert added, "I'm extremely optimistic about the future of the Democratic Party of DuPage County. I look forward to working with everyone during these next 2 years. I expect those who voted for Bill will also unite behind our county team of leaders and help continue the progress that we've made these past 6 years. Certainly there is plenty to be done with the county board, county-wide and state races and every bit of that teamwork paves the way for another incredible set of wins in 2014/2016. It won't be long at all before DuPage actually does turn blue."

Tax Day High Noon. The 1% need to pay their fair share of Social Security Taxes.

		Take Action Keep the wealthy paying into Social Security throughout the yea On April 17, most of America’s wealthiest citizens will no longer be paying Social Security taxes for 2014. That’s right—The average member of the 1% of wage earners won’t pay into our Social Security system for the last seven months out of the year. Even while Paul Ryan’s new budget proposes new tax cuts for these millionaires and billionaires, they don’t even pay Social Security taxes for the whole year. Tell Congress: Now is the time to make millionaires and billionaires pay the same rate as the rest of us into Social Security. Our Social Security system is primarily funded by payroll contributions (or FICA). But what most Americans never realize is that payroll contributions are only paid on the first $117,000. Once the FICA cap of $117,000 is reached, millionaires and billionaires stop paying into the system, while the vast majority of Americans continue to pay in on all of their salary. The American people know that Social Security benefits are earned through hard work no matter what their income bracket. These benefits provide crucial financial stability for individuals, families and communities during times of transition starting at retirement, the onset of a disability, or the loss of a spouse. Tell Congress that it’s not fair for millionaires and billionaires to stop paying into the system while the average American contributes on all income. Social Security Works will be partnering with SEIU to deliver your petition signatures in events around the country. With your help we can lift up the voices like Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Mark Begich, Bernie Sanders, Sherrod Brown, Brian Schatz, Jeff Merkley, Tom Harkin and dozens of members of the House of Representatives who understand that Social Security is a foundational system and that millionaires and billionaires must pay the same rate as the rest of us to make it stronger. Sign the petition to Congress: Now is the time to make millionaires and billionaires pay the same rate as the rest of us into Social Security. Thank you, Michael Phelan Social Security Works

Oh, we get it, if women go get married they won't want/need full pay for their work. Thanks GOP!

EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock Statement on Vote to Advance the Senate Paycheck Fairness Act

Republicans Standing in the Way of Economic Opportunity for Women

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, released a statement on the vote to advance the Senate Paycheck Fairness Act in the U.S. Senate. 

 

"Republicans had a chance to vote to advance a commonsense piece of legislation and to prove to American families that they aren't as out of touch as they seem, and instead chose to stand in the way of progress,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. The Paycheck Fairness Act is a necessary step in ending gender discrimination in pay and providing economic opportunity for all. Voters across the country are looking for leaders like our EMILY's List women in Congress who fought for the Paycheck Fairness Act and will continue the fight to make sure every family has a fair shot." 

 

EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $385 million to support pro-choice Democratic women candidates – making it one of the most successful political action committees in the country.

 

To read additional articles from EMILY'S List on the "Paycheck Fairness Act"  http://emilyslist.org/news

Monday: Tools You'll Use

Tools You'll Use There are a lot of .gov websites out there. But with so many, you might miss some of the ones that are most useful for you. That's why we're launching WhiteHouse.gov/Tools: It's a collection of tools from across the government that can make your life easier. Check out the page -- and find a tool that works for you.

Consumer Hub | The White House

 http://www.whitehouse.gov/tools

 

A Sunday thought: IS this what Jesus (or Allah, or Buddha or ) Would do?

The Ryan Budget: A roadmap to ruin for schools, students and families  By Amanda Litvinov  

 
Rep. Paul Ryan proposes cutting another $800 billion in a decade to the part of the federal budget that includes education. Why? To continue giving handouts to the rich and powerful.
 Read More: http://educationvotes.nea.org/2014/04/02/the-ryan-budget-a-roadmap-to-ruin-for-schools-students-and-families/

Politico's take on the situation from the end of the week

Here's a good Saturday thought: Go get married.

 Conservatives to women: Go get married
By Dana Milbank

April 4, 2014

WASHINGTON—

The conservative minds of the Heritage Foundation have found a way for Republicans to shrink the gender gap: They need to persuade more women to get their MRS degrees.

The advocacy group held a gathering of women of the right Monday afternoon to mark the final day of Women's History Month — and the consensus was that women ought to go back in history. If Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg's mantra is "lean in," these women were proposing that women lean back: Get married, take care of kids and let men earn the wages.

"We're gathered to celebrate Women's History Month, but I don't celebrate Women's History Month," announced writer Mona Charen, one of the panelists. "It doesn't interest me whether a person who happens to share my chromosomes sits in the Oval Office. It doesn't interest me how many women members of the Senate there are."

What interests Charen and the other women on the stage is their belief, as Charen put it, that "feminism has done so much damage to happiness."  .....

READ MORE: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-women-gop-mrs--men-oped-0404-20140404-4%2c0%2c6100081.story

Marking the End of Volunteer Week. THANK YOU all DPDC volunteers.

Sandy Gresak, one of our uber volunteers put this together to honor this week and our DPDC volunteers.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK                                                               To our outstanding Democrat volunteers, This week marks National Volunteer Week, and as a current volunteer, I'd like to take this time to recognize all our volunteers at the DPDC.  You generously give your time and your talent to help the Democratic Party achieve our goals. Each one of you is a role model, an ear to listen, and each of you add your own talent that adds to our success.  Most importantly, you are there.  Because of your dedication and creativity, and our phenomenal leadership, the Democratic Party of DuPage County is improving in unprecedented ways. I AM SO PROUD TO BE A DPDC VOLUNTEER !  Sandy

Emily's List Endorses Sheila Simon; Can you Support Emily's List?

EMILY’s List Endorses Sheila Simon for Illinois Comptroller

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, endorsed Sheila Simon for Comptroller.

“Sheila Simon has spent her career fighting for Illinois women and families and championing open, honest, and fiscally-responsible government,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “Her strong, common sense leadership will serve Illinois well as Comptroller, and EMILY’s List—now more than three million members strong—is proud to endorse her candidacy.”

Sheila Simon has served as the Lt. Governor of Illinois since 2011. Before that, she served on the Carbondale City Council and worked as an assistant state’s attorney known for strong action against DUIs and domestic violence. Having a reputation in advocating for open, ethical, and transparent government, she was selected for the Illinois Reform Commission, where she sought to limit contributions in state campaign finance law. As a professor at the Southern Illinois University School of Law, she helped establish the school’s first domestic violence clinic. She is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center.

Read More: http://emilyslist.org/news/releases/emilys-list-endorses-sheila-simon-illinois-comptroller

Donate to Emily's List to support their mission of "electing women to make progressive change"

Keep Updated on Election Law Requirements and New Opportunities

NEW ELECTION LAW/REQUIREMENTS

 

REGISTERING ONLINE

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn signed a measure into law on July 27, 2013, that made Illinois the 18th state to allow voters to register online. You can begin the process of registering to vote in DuPage County right here. You must have a valid driver’s license or state identification card. You can check here to see if you are already registered or download an application as a PDF file, fill it in and mail it. You can also register at many locations throughout DuPage County. The online registration must be printed, physically signed, and mailed or delivered to the Election Commissioners no later than 28 days before the next election. For questions contact the Election Commission. Instructions are included on the form for where to mail it.

 

ABSENTEE APPPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE Public Act 98-0115 enables any registered voter to initiate the vote-by-mail process by applying online. The online application does not require the voter's signature and completely takes the place of the traditional hardcopy application. Additionally, voters in Illinois no longer need an excuse or reason to vote absentee in person or by mail. The application for DuPage County for registered voters is found here. An individual who wishes to vote by mail may complete the electronic application online. As soon as ballots are available (40 days prior to the election, For the March 18 Primary, voting by mail begins Feb. 6) a ballot and instructions will be mailed to the voters who have applied either onllne or in person or submitted a completed hard copy application.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Sierakowski, Supervisor of Absentee Voting, at 630-407-5611.

http://www.dupageco.org/Election/Voters/37059/ 

"Fairer America" Talking Points for your next gathering with Non-Democrats

Monday's Back Pocket Fact:

How CEO pensions compare to average workers’ pensions. According to a recent survey, CEO pensions are worth at least 239 times more than the average employee’s 401(k) at ten of the biggest U.S. companies.

http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/watch/how-ceo-pensions-compare-to-average-workers-204265027550

DONATE SUNDAY; Can you help?

 

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The Illinois Hunger Coalition seeks to alleviate and end hunger and the underlying causes through community organizing, advocating for progressive public policies, and public education.

205 West Monroe Street . suite 310
Chicago, Illinois 60606
312.629.9580 fax: 312.629.3514

 

GET INVOLVED!
Your tax-deductible gift will enable the Illinois Hunger Coalition to continue our organizing and advocacy work to end hunger in Illinois. IHC is a designated 501 (c)(3) .

 

For those in need, please call the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline (statewide in Illinois) at 1-800-359-2163

 

 

Click here for a Spanish version of last Novembers 2013 SNAP benefit cuts

 

http://www.ilhunger.org/

VP Biden Standing up for LGBT Rights

Standing Up for LGBT Rights Around the World

Jeff Prescott March 25, 2014 10:08 AM EDT

Share This Post

Vice President Joe Biden gives the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign gala in Los Angeles, Calif., March 22, 2014. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Standing Up for LGBT Rights Around the World
Vice President Joe Biden spoke to a packed audience at the Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles gala on Saturday night about America's unwavering commitment to LGBT rights in every corner of the world.

READ MORE http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/03/25/standing-lgbt-rights-around-world?utm_source=snapshot&utm_medium=email&utm_content=032514-blog

He was pronounced dead at 7:05 EST

Kirk, Rauner lower bar for cruel, heartless public servants.

Kirk, Rauner lower bar for cruel, heartless public servants by Walt Zlotow ,  April 02, 2014 at 08:23 AM

Two for the road...and don't come back!

 

In a nation of many cruel, heartless public servants, we Illinoisans don't have to look far to find two of the worst: Senator Mark Kirk and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner. They combined forces Monday to blast the Affordable Care Act because it's extending Medicaid to the 400,000 Illinois residents too poor to qualify for ACA subsidies to buy private health insurance but previously not eligible for Medicaid until Uncle Sam stepped in with ACA Medicaid expansion. This is double the number of sign ups expected. Gov. Quinn signed this Medicaid expansion last July, stating, "we believe access to quality health care is a fundamental right and we proudly embrace the Affordable Care Act.”

This Medicaid expansion, one of the key components of the ACA providing relief to tens of millions without health care, is a fabulous deal for the states. The Fed pays 100% of this expansion for the first three years and 90% thereafter. Twenty-four of the aforementioned cruel, heartless public servants, all red state governors, have turned down this expansion to score political points with the "destroy Obama" crowd on the backs, very lives in fact, of the medically uninsured. Yet, Kirk and Rauner rolled out their "Chicken Little The Sky Is Falling" routine whining that its terrible we let people get help to improve their lives, and possibly a full life, because Uncle Sam might someday decide they can no longer afford to pay their guaranteed 90% share and saddle the states with the expense. Kirk and Rauner tout it's better that life's health care losers suffer READ MORE

Don't let them tell you otherwise

The following sponsored message from Democratic Congressional Campaign Committeehas been sent to you via Mother Jones.

BREAKING: Despite Naysayers, ACA Enrollments Exceed Expectations...   The Affordable Care Act CRUSHED its first major enrollment deadline! As of Monday, 7.1 million Americans are now signed up for affordable, quality private health insurance through the law!!!   It wasn't easy. President Obama's faced unprecedented obstruction from Republicans. But he kept on fighting to make this historic day a possibility.   For that, we want to say thanks:   Will you click here to automatically sign your name and thank President Obama for making the Affordable Care Act a success? Republicans have spent more than 4 years going all out to wreck the Affordable Care Act. In their callous political calculations, they simply didn't care they were hurting American families in the process.   But they failed.   The ACA is the law of the land, and its success becomes clearer and clearer with each day.    So if you want to thank President Obama for standing up for us, today's the day to do it!   SIGN YOUR NAME:   http://dccc.org/7-million   Thanks,   DCCC Breaking News   Paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee | 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 (202) 863-1500 | www.dccc.org | Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Mother Jones and its non-profit publisher, the Foundation for National Progress, does not endorse any political candidate, political organization, commercial product, process or service, and the views expressed in this communication do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation or favoring by Mother Jones.

Disgusting Budget and Disgraceful Decision

C-SPAN: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) briefed reporters and answered questions on Paul Ryan's Budget. (40min video) Briefing is far too mild a description. Nancy and Chris really go after Paul Ryan's Republican Budget and the horrors of what would happen if it were approved by the House and Senate. They give a maximum amount of facts and framing inspiration for all Democratic candidates and their supporters to take the House and keep the Senate in the Midterm Election. Just one example, Ryan is so extreme that he wants to restore the 'donut hole' on prescription drugs. Nancy also answered questions on the "outrageous" McCutcheon SCOTUS decision. 

THIS IS MUST VIEWING AND SHARING.

http://www.c-span.org/video/?318672-1/minority-leader-pelosis-weekly-briefing