Where there's a Will, there's a way

I have mixed feelings about Ray LaHood as Transportation Secretary. We need to put more focus on public transportation and I'm not aware of LaHood being an advocate. Amtrak doesn't even have a line through Peoria. I'm hoping they'll follow the lead of Biden who's one of Amtrak's biggest supporters.

But, LaHood's appointment is a huge gift to the Illinois Democratic Party because it removes one of their most electable potential statewide candidates. LaHood's voting record is fairly conservative but he has a reputation for being a level-headed moderate.

He represents a large area of the state full of swing voters who often split their vote between the two parties. Chicago observers underestimate the size of the central and western Illinois swing vote that pushed Blagojevich through the 2002 primary and general election.

So thanks again, Barack. I don't see any electable moderates the GOP can run statewide other than Mark Kirk. I doubt Edgar will come out of political retirement and Schock will look like too much of an opportunist if he abandons his Congressional seat after just one term.

If Blagojevich proved anything in 2006 it's that even an unpopular, ineffective Democrat can get re-elected statewide in Illinois if Republicans run a weak candidate.

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Franklin Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882. Many people are comparing this time to the New Deal Era, and it's amazing how much of his first inaugural address sounds like it could have been delivered today. There are many parallels to Barack Obama's own inaugural.

Obama spoke frankly that difficult times are ahead that will take effort by the entire nation. Roosevelt said,

This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure, as it has endured, will revive and will prosper.

So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life, a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.

Yesterday, Obama called it shameful that CEO's accepted billions of dollars in bonuses even after taking the taxpayer bailout and laying off workers. Roosevelt was speaking to those CEO's and about today's failed supply-side, deregulating, conservative economic policies when he said,

Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.

True, they have tried. But their efforts have been cast in the pattern of an outworn tradition. Faced by failure of credit, they have proposed only the lending of more money. Stripped of the lure of profit by which to induce our people to follow their false leadership, they have resorted to exhortations, pleading tearfully for restored confidence. They only know the rules of a generation of self-seekers. They have no vision, and when there is no vision the people perish.

Yes, the money changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths. The measure of that restoration lies in the extent to which we apply social values more noble than mere monetary profit...These dark days, my friends, will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves, to our fellow men.

The financial crises of the last eight years from Enron to the mortgage collapse are in large part due to unraveling the system of public oversight that was first established under FDR. "Cutting big government red tape" is a nice slogan during an election year but our current economic crisis is the result when it comes from free-market-anarchist ideologues. We've been here before and we've been here for the exact same reasons.

When I read through the last 100 years of American political speeches I'm amazed at how little the fundamental issues have changed. Over time, those who value short-sighted greed over our responsibility to serve others are always judged to be on the wrong side of history.

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Someone just asked Quinn if he would model himself after another Illinois Governor and I thought to myself, "say Altgeld." He said John Altgeld.

Altgeld is most famous in history for pardoning the Haymarket anarchists. He was a daring and forward thinking progressive reformer. Perhaps too much so because he failed to win re-election and invited national controversy. He's an interesting guy to read up on.

There's an Altgeld castle-style building at four public universities in Illinois due in part to his commitment to promoting education.

Quinn's answer is unsurprising. It calls back to a time when Illinois was at the center of the populist-progressive movement. With Obama in the White House, Dick Durbin the second ranking Senate leader, and a new Governor, it looks like we are again.

Posted by Will at 6:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Governor Pat Quinn. Interesting.

Quinn is saying all the right things that Springfield residents want to hear. Springfield state workers are looking for big changes after six years of feeling abused by ex-Governor Blagojevich, being used as a rhetorical whipping post, and seeing the local economy crippled by the loss of state jobs.

I just heard Quinn say that he's going to live in the Governor's Mansion and is planning to eat there tonight. He said people should thank public employees and appreciate the work they do. That's a rare thing to hear since Reagan popularized the demonization of big-gubmnt bureaucrats.

Quinn even talked up Lincoln and the bicentennial celebration. He's shining so far. This is a refreshing change.

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I'm only listening to bits and pieces of Blagojevich's impeachment speech. I heard a line in passing that confirmed something I've thought since he took office.

He said that all the Democratic Senators had probably read the DCCC talking points about prescription drugs for seniors. For several years around the time Rod was first elected Governor, this was the top canned talking point for national Democrats.

Democratic leaders gave up on pushing for universal health care after 1994 and chose to focus on narrow health care issues that affect seniors, the age group which votes in the highest numbers. It comes form strategists who believe that the best way to win elections is to target regular voters instead of expanding the electorate with new voters. That approach had some limited success from '94-'06, but Obama was finally able to achieve a big win by engaging new voters.

In 2000, Al Gore talked about prescription drugs for seniors in every campaign speech. I take monthly prescriptions for my asthma and allergies and for part of that time I didn't have insurance coverage. Young people out of college or high school are less likely than any other age group to have health insurance.

Every time I heard a Democratic candidate talk about prescription drugs for seniors I wondered why they thought prescription drugs for anyone else didn't matter. Democratic leaders at the national level had almost nothing to say to young voters from '94-'06.

When Blagojevich ran in 2002 I recognized his overplayed talking points about prescription drugs for seniors. It gave me the impression that he was the kind of politician who would repeat whatever trendy lines someone told him would make him more popular. It sounded like the only thing sincere about it was his ambition.

Most politicians listen to consultants who help them tailor their message, which is fine, but it says something when all of your top agenda items come from a cookie-cutter strategy memo. Rod's speech today reminded me to listen to my first instincts.

Posted by Will at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

UIS is participating in the national teach-in on global warming with an afternoon of events on Friday, February 6th. The last part of the program will be a panel discussion about taking local action on global warming with myself and Bob Croteau.

I'll give a little background about the Sierra Club clean energy agreement with CWLP, Cool Cities, and how those programs provide Springfield residents with unique opportunities to take local action. It's open to the public so students from other schools and non-students are invited.

The organizers sent me this schedule:

Global Warming Teach-In
Friday, February 6th, 1:00-5:00 PM
UHB 2008 (refreshments in second floor lobby)

1:00-1:30 View webcast of The First 100 Days featuring David Orr, Hunter Lovins, and youth climate leaders Billy Parish and Wahela Johns

1:30-1:45 Discussion of webcast

1:45-2:00 Coffee break with cookies

2:00-2:50 Carbon footprint exercise

2:50-3:00 Coffee and cookie break

3:00-4:00 Keynote address "Lessons in Climate Change from the Geologic Record" by Dr. Dennis Ruez, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies

4:00-5:00 Local actions on global warming panel by Will Reynolds (Sierra Club) and Bob Croteau (CWLP)

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Obama is wasting no time making good on his campaign promises. The New York Times reports in a pun-laden article that Monday morning, President Obama will direct the EPA to reconsider the Bush administration's obstruction of fourteen states that want to improve auto emissions standards.

When the EPA denied the request to implement the Pavely emissions standards many experts thought it was a political delaying tactic by the Bush administration in defiance of agency scientists. Obama's action puts cleaner cars back in the fast lane. I'm sorry, I couldn't help throwing in just one pun.

The Illinois Clean Car Act, which I wrote about last year, would make Illinois the first Midwestern state to enact the higher standards. The General Assembly didn't vote on the bill in the last session, but it will be introduced again this year. Environmental and other public-interest groups created the Illinois Climate Action Network to push for climate change legislation and the Clean Car Act will be a top priority.

Typically, auto-industry lobbyists politically blackmail legislators with the threat of lost jobs if they improve fuel efficiency and emissions standards. But, it's obvious why the economic downturn is hurting GM and American car companies more than Toyota, which is selling smaller, more fuel efficient cars.

If American car companies want a multi-billion dollar bailout from taxpayers then they shouldn't be allowed to keep repeating the same mistakes. Now is the time for change.

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Kurt Granberg's appoint as DNR Director is getting more bad press around the state including a Belleville News Democrat editorial and an AP article on his retirement boost.

The SJ-R ran this quote:

“I’m not in it about the money,” Granberg said. “I enjoy the public service and I enjoy the challenges.”

I'm surprised that, as far as I know, no one has picked up that angle of the story yet. I have no reason to believe what I wrote is inaccurate. It's all there in public documents for anyone to see.

Update Edited on 1/24: I wrote too soon. The AP article was updated after I first read it and now mentions the $50,000 he took from his campaign fund. I hadn't noticed it before I wrote this blog post.

Posted by Will at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Finally. It's time to reboot and restore democracy.

Obama's first executive order issued yesterday is aimed at restoring an open government that works for all the people instead of the connected few.

Before that, just hours after taking office, Obama sent a memo halting all pending regulations Bush tried to push through at the last minute. Many of the regulatory changes are designed to help the self-interest polluters who Bush served for the last eight years.

(Obama's day one reboot screen)

Obama's executive order closing Guantanamo today makes another blanket statement:

The Order also prohibits reliance on any Department of Justice or other legal advice concerning interrogation that was issued between September 11, 2001 and January 20, 2009.

I still can't believe I've been living in a country where the question of torture was up for debate. Now America can be America again.

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Governor Rod Blagojevich chose newly retired State Representative Kurt Granberg of Centralia to head the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Friday. I decided to look up his latest campaign fund disclosure report he filed since leaving office.

Granberg filed a report on Obama's Inauguration Day for the period that ended December 31. I didn't find any donations to or from Blagojevich but there were a few things that might get more attention now that he's asking for a new high profile job.

(Kurt Granberg)

In some cases, state law allows representatives to take personal payments from their campaign fund. Granberg took $50,000 for himself.

He appears to either be leasing or purchased a car with campaign funds. You'll see payments to Giuffre Buick and Volvo in Springfield for car related expenses, plus regular $424.35 monthly payments to Heartland Credit Union for "auto expense."

He also likes to buy "gifts for contributors and supporters" with campaign funds. He spent $400.00 at a New Orleans Art Gallery called Michalopoulos. Last July $624.95 went to a California Winery, Grgich Hills Cellar.

In the report from the previous filing period he spent $257.13 at Mason's Gallery in New Orleans for a gift, and he spent $350.00 at Pure Food Fish Market in Seattle buying gifts for Sam Mateer. I'm guessing some of these were door prizes for fundraisers but it's hard to tell.

There are many expenditures to hotels and restaurants, which is typical for campaign funds, including a "staff meeting" at Boone's Saloon. He's a member of the Sangamo Club and enjoys eating there often.

Since state pensions are based on your final rate of pay Granberg will get a nice increase after heading a state agency.

I doubt any of this is illegal but it's not the kind of report you want with all the bad news about Blagojevich. It may not be the example Pat Quinn wants to set when he becomes Governor. The appointment will be voted on by the Senate so I wouldn't be surprised if it's brought up by a Senator or reporter. I haven't seen any coverage of this yet but the Belleville News-Democrat has interesting background about problems with patronage hiring at DNR under Blagojevich.

Posted by Will at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

One of the suggested movies I put up for a vote to Liberty Brew & View attendees was Dorothy Day: Don’t Call Me A Saint, "the story of the New York writer and Catholic anarchist who the Vatican is currently considering for canonization."

It didn't get the most votes so another group arranged a free screening at Lincoln Library on Wednesday, February 18 at 7:00pm.

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The guy who was once blacklisted from TV for being a little too red is now singing the alternative national American anthem at a Presidential inauguration. Unbelievable.

He's even singing the missing verses! OK, I just got a little misty eyed.

Posted by Will at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I didn't know Obama was speaking today.

This speech reminds that one reason people are so inspired by Obama is that he personifies the mythical American dream. It's easy to be cynical about a President like Bush who was born into one of the most powerful families in the world and had most things handed to him in life.

But Obama wasn't born on third base. He came from an ordinary background and was raised by a single mom like many people today were. He reaffirms the story we were all told in school about the prairie lawyer from Illinois who rose from poverty to the Presidency.

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Did you know that the Bald Eagle may be taken off the list of threatened species in Illinois? That makes me a little nervous, but it's good news if they're thriving in Illinois.

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Stevie Wonder, Samuel L. Jackson, and U2 I can handle. Incidentally, I'm watching this online at HBO. U2 songs were made for big political rallies. They already had one ready to honor Martin Luther King.

I've seen U2 in concert twice and they always put on a great show. I first saw them during the Popmart tour. I won free tickets from WYMG. A lot of people trashed that album as a sell-out but I liked it. Their sound was getting stale. In my opinion, they sold out on their subsequent album which had a more top-40 radio sound to it.

This reminds me of the U2 song they played at Obama's campaign announcement in Springfield.

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I just started watching the inaugural concert. I might blog about it periodically. I don't promise to be insightful or interesting.

I just tuned in to Jack Black saying something about land conservation. I like Black but I'm not sure I'm ready to hear him lecture me about politics.

I nominate American Pie as the most overplayed song in the history of pop music. I don't care what all the verses mean anymore. It doesn't have any deep meaning beyond nostalgia. Not even Obama's inauguration can make me like the song or Garth Brooks. In fact Garth Brooks just made me a little more sick of the song than I thought I could be.

I'll try to be less of a curmudgeon if I post again.

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The Visitor attracted one of the biggest crowds I've had for Liberty Brew & View. Close to 70 people showed up in large part due to the Springfield ACLU and Central Illinois IMAGE Inc inviting their members.

Most of the crowd stayed to hear Shelly Heideman speak along with two immigrants working in Beardstown. She invited everyone to attend a prayer vigil.

Please attend a prayer vigil to stop ICE raids and arrests of immigrant people. Join others from across the nation who will be praying on this date for an end to ICE enforcement tactics.

We will meet at the Springfield ICE office, 2861 Stanton, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 5:30-6:00 p.m. For more information, contact Gamaliel of Springfield/Beardstown – 217-626-1004

Bring a candle and a sign, (such as STOP ICE RAIDS. STOP TEARING FAMLIIES APART).

February 17
The votes are in and February will be George Carlin night. I'll pick one of his newer and older stand up acts to celebrate his life and cynic's wit. As usual it's starts at 7:00pm at Capital City Bar & Grill.

March 17 will be the new documentary about a returned Iraq vet, Body of War.

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History called and left a message: you still suck!

"Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time." - Commander Cockoo Bananas

Ironic statement considering that the last excuse Bush had for killing tens of thousands of innocent people in Iraq was to advance his ideologically narrow version of democracy. I agree with Bush's words.

I came of age politically during the Clinton years. He offered so much hope but was such a personal and political disappointment. Starting Tuesday there will be a President I can feel proud to have represent America for the first time in my adult life. Finally.

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I met national Sierra Club President Allison Chin yesterday. She was very nice and commented on my Obama campaign hoodie. Her official picture doesn't do her justice.

The Sierra Club Illinois Chapter executive committee met in the Chicago office this weekend at the same time as the national Diversity Committee. I had good conversations with two diversity committee members about the need to expand the Club's member and leadership base in order to remain relevant.

That's a special challenge for a popular movement that began around 100 years ago with wealthy white people protecting their favorite natural areas. The movement has changed dramatically since then but having a diverse, inclusive environmental organization takes effort.

I was also made vice-chair of the Illinois Sierra Club that day in an uncontested election. Dick Cheney will be my role model.

Posted by Will at 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm used to people giving me funny looks but it happens more than usual lately. A few recent examples:

Wearing my Barack Obama logo hoodie in Moody Texas, near Crawford. I swear we were only on our way to go camping.

Being the only white person at the 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line stop in Chicago.

Wearing my Obama hoodie anywhere else in Texas.

Wearing a suit and tie around people who are used to seeing me in a hoodie.

Posted by Will at 7:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Yesterday Rich Miller asked for a Blagojevich impeachment/removal theme song. After hearing that he's officially impeached this morning there's only one song in my head. He needs to get out da way, vich!

It's an obscene and offensive song in every way so click at your own discretion...

It's also popular at rollerderby bouts.

Posted by Will at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Slow Food Springfield is having a film festival that Liberty Brew & View fans might like. Details from the email are below and you can download the flier here.

2009 Food Film Festival

Slow Food Springfield, the University of Illinois Extension, and the Illinois State Museum are presenting the Food Film Festival on January 24, 2009 at the Illinois State Museum located at Spring and Edwards Streets in Springfield. We will be presenting films about our most important life sustaining resource – food. The purpose of the film festival is to both educate the public on issues regarding our current food systems including modern food production, distribution and consumption, and their effects on our health, the environment, and human rights, and to learn about food in different cultures. There is no charge to attend these films.

10:00 Welcome

10:15-10:30 The True Cost of Food
The True Cost of Food is a 15 minute educational and entertaining DVD about sustainable food. http://www.truecostoffood.org/

10:40-11:10 Baking Bread
A short documentary by Rose Spinelli, which prompted by her inability to make the traditional bread of her Sicilian ancestors, allowed her to make peace with the past. http://www.mediarights.org/film/baking_bread

11:10-11:40 Discussion with filmmaker Rose Spinelli, “Baking Bread”.
Meet the producer of the film “Baking Bread” and discuss the film.

11:50-12:10 Yum, Yum, Yum –A Taste of Cajun and Creole Cooking
This film celebrates of rural Cajun and Creole Louisiana in terms of tasting its food and listening to its music. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100997/

12:20- 1:20 Broken Limbs - Apples, Agriculture and the New American Farmer
This film examines the plight of apple growers in this age of globalization and explores sustainable agriculture. http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/broke.html

1:30-3:00 The Future of Food
This film provides an overview of the key questions raised by consumers as they become aware of genetically modified foods. http://www.thefutureoffood.com/

3:00-4:00 Garlic is as Good as 10 Mothers
Les Blank filmed this "American garlic revolution" as it happened in 1980. Classic scenes of Alice Waters' Chez Panisse menu in Berkeley which helped propel garlic to the top of the culinary scene, breaking down our nation's long standing taboo against "the stinking rose". http://thegarlicstore.com/ZenCart/index.php?main_page=product_ info&cPath=36&products_id=279

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One thing you can't help but notice at the Alamo is the plant life everywhere around the mission. They maintain the grounds beautifully.

During my new years day visit I noticed a sign near a bush warning people not to drink the water. It says that the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, who maintain the site, cooperate with the municipal utility in San Antonio to use recycled water for landscape irrigation.

When I got home I found this article from the San Antonio Business Journal.

SAWS [San Antonio Water System] completed its water recycling system in 2001 as the nation’s largest of its kind. The water utility built the system to provide an alternative to Edwards Aquifer water for use in parks, golf courses and other landscaping purposes.

SAWS collects treated waste water at its Leon Creek and Dos Rios plants and pumps the recycled water back through separate pipes for use on the lawns of its recycled water customers, including the Alamo, USAA, Brackenridge Park, Trinity University, Lackland Air Force Base and the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“Recycled water has really become an economic resource for our community,” says SAWS Chief Operating Officer Steve Clouse. “Before, it seemed we had a product no one wanted; now the demand for recycled water just increases each year. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in seven short years and 10 billion gallons.”

This is the kind of effort Springfield should make before we spend millions on a water project that may be greater than our needs. It's the sort of program Lincoln Land Community College should think about. I saw them watering their grounds during the hottest hours of the afternoon almost every day last summer.

From what I saw, the San Antonio water conservation program doesn't result in brown lawns or ugly grounds. If it's good enough for the Alamo...

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If you think the Senate appointment is messy just remember that it could get worse. The General Assembly will be back in town Wednesday. The good news is that Blagojevich could be impeached by the end of the week.

But what happens if Pat Quinn tries to appoint someone else to the Senate seat before Roland Burris is sworn in? What if the General Assembly passes a bill for a special election? Burris may sue to argue that his appointment should stand. How long would we be left without a Senator while the courts decide?

Burris is a good choice and no one seems to have a problem with him other than the fact that he was willing to be put in this strange position. This would be much easier if Quinn or the legislature act to make their own appointment of Burris after Blagojevich is removed from office.

Posted by Will at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

You can download the pdf version of the flyer for the Liberty Brew & View showing of The Visitor coming up on January 13. Feel free to print one out and post it.

You can also click to enlarge this pic.

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