RIP IFG
Posted on 18 July 2010 | No responses
Hello everyone, today (July 18 2010) Illinos for Growth will be closing it’s doors. On the personal request of a friend, IFG is no more. For more information email: media@illinoisforgrowth.com
Over 100 Republicans march in East Moline
Posted on 6 July 2010 | No responses
A reader sent us this photo from the Bobby Schilling facebook page.
Hundreds marched for Bobby Schilling in a Tom Railsback fashion, with two rows of flag bearers stretching down an entire block. It was surreal to watch this many Republicans show up for a parade in a city that is known for its rowdy parade watchers (slashed tires last year!), green flight, and blue dog union types. (Source).
It is easy to stereotype candidates and the communities they are supposed to represent. It is harder to find something or someone that defies those stereotypes. This parade did that with a united front of Republican walkers defying all preconceived notions about what it means to be a Republican.
Our prediction is that it will translate to the polls.
East Moline Fourth of July Parade aka Bobby Schilling, Rich Morthland, and the elephant
Congressman Phil Hare’s Facebook Page
Posted on 6 July 2010 | No responses
The Quincy Pundit makes an awesome post and a good point. Check out Rep. Phil Hare’s facebook fan page and the read the comments. This guy is toast!
My favorite:
Pavel Curtisov: Hey Phil, how come Blago didn’t consider you for Obamas senate seat?
Phair Trade with Korea
Posted on 30 June 2010 | 4 responses
Recently, Democrat Congressman Hare of the Illinois 17th Congressional District has criticized President Obama for his stance on trade at the G-20 summit. The issue has made strange bedfellows as challenger Bobby Schilling “commends” Obama’s new stance. In his typical cool, aloof style Obama backs of the Democratic platform/hard-line protectionism and promotes free trade with Korea (both?).
Phil says, “But for those of us in West-Central Illinois, we know all too well that the main export of unfair trade deals is good-paying jobs.”
In one fell swoop, this argument is put to rest by Hare’s opponent Bobby Schilling a.k.a the Ron Paul of Illinois: “If John Deere or Caterpillar opens a production facility in South Korea, jobs will be created here at their headquarters,” Bobby Schilling said. “These jobs would typically be in IT, marketing, or finance – in other words, high-paying service jobs that we desperately need in our area.”
“….as a reminder, Korea exported 476,833 cars to the United States in 2009 while U.S. carmakers sold only 5,878 in Korea. As a result, our automotive trade deficit with Korea now stands at $7.8 billion.” – Phil Hare
Deficits are good for growth — it means US dollars are flowing out of the country and being held by foreign interests (reducing the amount of currency in the domestic market, reducing prices domestically). Holding USD means they/he/she is confident in US goods and services. The converse is true as well. Think: the Law of Comparative Advantage. Bonus points: why does China devalue their currency?
“America’s auto industry and workforce are finally back on their feet. This trade agreement would knock them down again.” – Phil Hare
Congressman Hare, trade is not a zero-sum game where one group is enriched at the benefit of the other. The benefit is mutual otherwise the trade wouldn’t occur. “Unfair” advantages, restrictions on imports, all that stuff misses the point: buying cheap foreign goods makes money available to buy other products, increasing everyone’s living standards.
Economist Tyler Cowen once said he could teach an entire class on Comparative Advantage, IFG will personally pay the tuition for Phil Hare to take that class.
————
We don’t usually do this, but please vote this bum out. Start here: https://bobby2010.com/donate/, we did.
The President of Russia follows IFG on Twitter
Posted on 24 June 2010 | 1 response
I recieved this in my email a few minutes ago, from the Kremlin’s twitter account:
Needless to say, we were very excited because this is an official page prompted by the Russian leaders recent visit to Silicon Valley.
We hope to start diplomatic relations between Illinois and Russia soon.
Congressman Phil Hare goes viral…again
Posted on 23 June 2010 | 3 responses
Our bumbling Congressman (Phil Hare IL-17) made his viral debut with “Phil Hare doesn’t care“, he’s about to it again. Watch as his handler/caregiver grabs his shoulders to turn him way.
YOUTUBE: Another Embarassing Moment from Congressman Hare
Apparently somone can have more than one “macaca moment…”
BP’s partner in the Deep Water Horizon rig has a better bond rating than the State of Illinois.
Posted on 23 June 2010 | No responses
Investors and credit rating agencies rate Illinois’ debt as “slightly riskier than Iceland’s or Latvia’s, but not quite as big a gamble as Iraq’s.”
“What is Illinois doing that has the markets so nervous? A few months back, I explored the issue, noting that Illinois doesn’t face many of the challenges that typify “states in peril.” Unlike California, Illinois cannot blame its budget woes on a particularly volatile revenue system or on outsize exposure to the housing bubble. Illinois’s crisis is unique in that it is purely a creature of mismanagement by elected officials.”
Source: http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2010/06/22/is_illinois_the_new_california_98528.html
Goodbye White House, Hello Prison
Posted on 21 June 2010 | 2 responses
Rahm Emmanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff
Illinois Congressman. Chief of State to a President. Usually indicates character, resolve, and leadership. Add these three words: Chicago Democrat Blago and we have a recipe for disaster.
Emanuel agreed to sign a letter to the Chicago Tribune supporting Blagojevich in the face of a scathing editorial by the newspaper that ridiculed the governor for self-promotion. Within hours, Emanuel’s own staff asked for a favor of its own: The release of a delayed $2 million grant to a school in his district.
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Rahm-Traded-Favors-with-Blago-Report-96812049.html#ixzz0rWR2NnSY
Emmanuel was going to have his Ari Gold brother host a fundraiser for Blago in exchange for a really nice school in his Congressional district. Sounds like some very effective Tammany style politics EXCEPT Blago never got the fundraiser and Rahm Emmanuel got his school.
The question remains, then what did Rahm Emmanuel give Rod Blagojevich?
“One of these things is not like the other…”
Posted on 19 June 2010 | No responses
Take a hard look at this picture. What do these four men have in common?
Dennis Ahern, Porter McNeil, John Brown, and Nick Camlin with Arlene Beiderbecke.
They have all run for office and never been elected!
Alexi Giannoulias macaca moment?
Posted on 19 June 2010 | No responses
A sniper attends a Giannoulias fundraiser and it is dragged out, Soprano’s style. There is a really easy way to get rid of creepy camera guy: disarm with charm. Or do it Rand Paul style – ask questions until they crack.
Is this is a macaca moment? You decide.
