DOWNSTATEILADVOCATE.COM: Recent Comments

Comment on Effingham Sports Center

downstateiladvocate — 2010-03-04T04:20:41Z

Waylon, please do! Send a copy to Mayor Lange and the other council members as well. They need to understand what this project is going to do to our community!

Comment on Effingham Sports Center

Waylon Waymoth — 2010-03-03T20:47:41Z

I am printing this off and taking it next door for A. Haris. I think you could teach him something.

Comment on Where Do We Go From Here: The Future Of The Tea Parties

Bridget — 2010-02-07T21:47:06Z

Obama's desire to repeal "Don't ask, don't tell" can actually help to fulfill the "days of Lot" (Luke 17, cf. Gen. 19), the fulfillment of which will hurry up the return of the Heavenly Commander-in-Chief who will make all things straight (pun intended)! Interesting Google articles include "Obama Supports Public Depravity," "Separation of Raunch and State" and "David Letterman's Hate Etc."
For some dessert visit Yahoo and type in "Obama Avoids Bible Verses."
PS - You're invited to use these new pro-life slogans: "Unborn babies should have the right to keep and bear arms - and legs and ears and eyes etc.!" and "Unborn babies should have the same right to be born alive that abortionists had!"
PPS - Super Bowl suits me to a T - Tim Tebow!

Comment on Why The Number "41" Is Important

larry steele — 2010-02-07T00:44:11Z

I believe this election was a wakeup call to democrats but as we know they
are slow to awaken and that is what we
republicans want we neeed to take back
this country and get it back on track to
the way the constitution inteneded. this country is so far off track that it
will take a while to staighten out

Comment on Why The Number "41" Is Important

Bob — 2010-02-05T14:16:19Z

Brian,
Excellent piece today. Your analysis is spot on.

Comment on IL Fair Map Amendment vs. Put-Back amendment

KURT TEGTMEIER — 2010-02-04T14:04:28Z

I'm interested and will sign a petition.

Comment on IL Fair Map Amendment vs. Put-Back amendment

John Bambenek — 2010-01-02T02:44:36Z

The voters voted down having a constitutional convention, nothing more, nothing less. A convention could have re-written the entire constitution, it could have proposed a few amendments, it could have adjourned and done nothing. In fact, the key argument against it was "we don't know what they will do".

The petition for the Put-Back is a concrete proposal. If voters don't want it, they don't have to sign the petition. If they don't like it, by all means, vote "No" in November. The onus is on the voters here so if anything is "undoing" the con-con vote, it will be the people themselves.

Further, there are some significant misinterpretations that you make. First, Put-Back contains six criteria for maps. A scoring system must contain those 6, only those 6 and none less.

Second, the redistricting committee is less important under Put-Back because they only SCORE maps. More importantly, Put-Back allows ANY citizen to go to court to challenge any aspect of redistricting. Both Fair Map and the current constitution only permit the Attorney General to go to court. So even if Madigan completely ignored Fair Map (it it passed), only is daughter would be able to sue him.

You say the Senate can amend anything given to them, however Put-Back says "may adopt a redistricting resolution from the three maps for Legislative Districts submitted by the Commission.". That explicitly rules out changes. They vote for one of those three without change, if they can't agree, highest scoring map wins.

You say Put-Back doesn't require public meetings? First, they are rather irrelevant as the "public hearing" in Sterling on Gitmo North showed. You can have public meetings and simply not allow the public any say. Put-Back allows anyone to submit maps. More importantly, the Open Meetings Act would require them to have public meetings for any action and they'd face CRIMINAL penalties if they don't. That's incentive enough in my opinion.

Lastly, Fair Map is clearly unconstitutional. Citizen-initiated amendments were clearly restricted by the framers of the Constitution. Fair Map makes no attempt to even recognize such restrictions exist. It'll be immediately struck down before the voters ever see it.

Comment on Washington DC Isn't The Only Ones Handing Out Bailouts

downstateiladvocate — 2009-12-22T21:11:01Z

One other thing. I didn't even touch on the stuff the Effingham County Board is pulling from benefits to the amount of per diems being paid out. So I guess I missed a few.

Comment on Washington DC Isn't The Only Ones Handing Out Bailouts

downstateiladvocate — 2009-12-22T21:05:09Z

I think you may be right, rb. However, the right thing to do is not always the most popular thing to do. Those that we elect need to understand they are supposed to be acting in the best interest of the residents of Effingham. Unfortunately, it seems that no matter who we bounce out and put in their place continues the policies of those prior. This is despite some that openly stated their opposition to at least one of these projects prior to being elected, but once sitting in that Commissioner's chair, quickly changed their mind.

Maybe I should take advantage of the generous nature of the city council. Since we plan the Tea Party here in town, and draw about 500 per event, and they spend money once here in Effingham, maybe I should ask the council for $20,000 to renovate my kitchen/dining room because that's where we plan our events from. What's good for the goose is good for the gander...

Comment on Washington DC Isn't The Only Ones Handing Out Bailouts

rb — 2009-12-22T20:37:50Z

Wow, you took on just about every mover/shaker/sacred cow in the entire town. Don't expect a lot of Christmas cards this year.