Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. Archbishop of Chicago, Most Reverend Francis Kane, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Most Reverend John Manz, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Most Reverend Joseph Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago,  Most Reverend George Rassas Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Most Reverend Alberto Rojas, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and  Most Reverend Andrew Wypych, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago all signed a pretty stern letter to parishoners, condemning the Obama administrations denial of Relgious Liberty.  You can read it here.

So how did the Chicago incumbent media react?
Op-eds from Dennis Byrne and Steve Huntley, both are against the intrusive HHS ruling and …

As people leave the workforce, the Unemployment Rate has dropped
From the Financial Times
In the grey line, Nomura economists have adjusted the unemployment rate for the number of discouraged workers who have left the labor force and therefore count as unemployed in this alternative measure. (And yes, they do take into account demographic trends by age group that would influence those leaving, the largest of which is retiring baby boomers. So the right way to understand the alternative 10.3 per cent rate is that it includes those who have left the …

They Chicago Way:
Three Contractors..at the White House.
Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House. One is from Chicago, another is from Tennessee, and the third is from Montana. All three go with a White House official to examine the fence.
The Montana contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. “Well,” he says…, “I figure the job will run about $900. That’s $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me.”
The Tennessee contractor also …

Here’s Jan Schakowsky on Don and Roma, writing off 20,000 jobs
Twenty thousand jobs is really not that many jobs and investing in green technologies will produce that and more. But I’ll tell you what, you know it seems to me that the Republicans would rather have an issue than a pipeline.
 

 
Never fear, Cong. Schakowsky tells us that the Federal Government will act as Venture Capitalist to bring taxpayers the big returns.
That Government at VC thing has been working out great,
GM is no longer on the precipice of complete fiscal meltdown; …

From Lynn Sweet
Gingrich, a historian, demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the work of Alinsky, a legendary community organizer in Chicago’s Woodlawn and Back of the Yard neighborhoods and beyond.
“Alinsky was about organizing ordinary people so they could get a seat at the table rather than getting crumbs or no crumbs at all when public policies were decided,” said Horwitt, the author of Let Them Call Me Rebel: Saul Alinsky: His Life and Legacy.
What he loved about this country is you had the freedom to change a lot of the …

From the Tampa Bay Times
Here is my take. The first lady and the president have been models of civility and restraint in dealing with matters of race. They are loath to play the so-called race card. In fact, the Obamas always have been forced into racial confrontations.

 
From Hot Air quoting model of civility, Barack Obama
“I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue …

Dick Durbin is the Senate Sponsor of Internet Censoring PIPA Bill.

 
From Pro-Publica
Timeline: Sen. Durbin and PIPA
A list of statements and legislative actions made by Sen. Durbin relating to PIPA. Contact Dan Nguyen if you have additions or corrections.

Jul 11, 2011 Letter to constituent in defending PIPA
“It is important to note that this legislation seeks to address a serious problem without inappropriately restricting Internet freedom. The Justice Department currently lacks tools to effectively enforce anti-piracy and counterfeiting laws against websites that are dedicated to distributing material in violation of these laws.”
Source: pastebin.com

Jun 30, 2011 Co-sponsors PIPA

Source: Library of …

From the Chicago Daily Law Review
The justices also disbarred on consent Daniel S. Mahru of Chicago following his guilty plea to a federal criminal information — charging him with defrauding his mother and the estate set up to provide for her care. M.R. 25052. Mahru and Tony Rezko are former business partners. Rezko continues serving a 10 ½ year prison term for plotting to squeeze $7 million in kickbacks from firms that wanted to do business with the state of Illinois.
The misconduct that led to Mahru’s disbarment did not involve …

From the Daily Show

image Rod Stewart no relation to Jon Stewart

From Illinois Statehouse News
Illinois owes a lot of money to a lot of people, including itself, and thanks to legislation passed in 2010, the state is in the front of the line to get repaid.

Under the emergency budget act, the state was able to borrow $500 million from hundreds of funds, including the Illinois Animal Abuse Fund and Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, to balance its budget.
While the funds were being depleted, the state was putting off paying the money it owed to businesses, health-care providers and schools.
The inter-fund borrowing …