B.J. Parker, a frequent blogger on CLTV, narrows the senator pick down to Tammy Duckworth, the Black Hawk pilot, and Jesse Jackson, Jr. - the Congressman. I'm leaning towards Jesse, but Tammy will be on my show to share her thoughts on a monumental time for Illinois politics.
Rod Blagojevich has a big decision to make. He has the task of choosing the next Senator from the state of Illinois. Will it be Jackson, Jones, Madigan, Duckworth, Schakowsky, or Guitierrez? Danny Davis? Could it be a sleeper...someone who is not so obvious?
My pick for senator would be Jesse Jackson, Jr. It's an obvious pick, but the individual is the closest candidate we can cartridge in, without cloning. With all respect to the other candidates, Congressman 3J, is an Obama supporter, has worked with him on several initiatives, is similar in age, although a bit younger than Obama (by 3 and a half years), and said on GML that "I wouldn't say no to the invitation Garrard."
A question for RedEye columnist Kyra Kyles: should the CTA bail out customers? A fare increase is absurd and I am going to protest for everyone who cannot afford to pay for the increase. Kyra joins me on GML. See CLTV story on CTA Fare Increase.
Fares are going to $2.25 - That's high! Monthly passes with increase from $75 to $90. This can be devastating on a fixed income or someone with minimum wage income. 630 workers being layed off. If lay-offs are that huge, give riders a break. CTA: I'm protesting the increase on Garrard McClendon Live.
It's easy to be cynical about celebrating and remembering veterans. If you're against the concept of war, honoring a soldier can be difficult. But if you think of all of your rights and privileges, and the freedom to just walk out of your house, drive a car to any location you choose, and say just about anything, you begin to embrace the sacrifice of the soldier.
Veterans Day is special. My dad, uncle, brother, and several of my cousins are veterans. They served this country with pride, so that I can get on TV and run my big mouth. They sacrificed so that I can do research at institutions of higher learning, so that I can protest, complain, and put something into action. We should hug a veteran today and say thank you. Their sacrifice is our freedom.
Dreams from my Father and The Audacity of Hope...Baby Barry does it. Grandma Dunham is smiling in heaven today. Sasha and Malia are going to the White House. Michelle is the First Lady - Elect.
Barack Obama - 44th President of the United States. Tell me what you think...and better yet, what will you do to help Barack Obama be the best president of the United States?
Uh oh! Senator Obama's name may change to President in a few hours...he just won Virginia, he's got New Mexico, Pennsylvania is in his pocket, Minnesota is toast, the North Eastern states are all wrapped up. A caller to my show said it's all about race...political race, not the politics of color. Will Indiana turn Blue? Call me at 630-575-Talk or leave a comment.
Who are your picks for local and national elections? I am looking forward to your phone calls, blog comments, and voice messages. Garrard McClendon Live! will be on throughout the election night with CLTV News and continuous election coverage.
GML call in line - 630-575-TALK (8255). Blog me atwww.CLTV.com/gml. Leave a message on the GML-VLINE - 630-574-3232.
Who are you voting for on Tuesday? Tell me and I will share your picks with viewers on GML.
You thought your favorite sitcom was coming on, but the Democratic candidate for president bought the time slot and wowwed viewers with a dazzling 30 minute infomercial stumping on networks with cinematography rivaling Hollywood. Was the money and time worth it? I think so. Obama continues to show that he is a formidible force of nature in the political world.
Call it pompous, conceited, confident, or "humble," Obama spares no expense in getting the message out to potential Barack backers. Senator John McCain should have countered by spending $3 mil to do the same. The film may be the tipping point. Senator, lawyer, organizer, father, husband, candidate, and diplomat, Barack Obama shows us that excellence and hope is just a vote away.
Incumbent Congressman Bill Foster and challenger Jim Oberweis will present their views on GML Tuesday. The race for 14th district Representative proves to be a tight contest, with Foster's Tribune endorsement and Oberweis's solid reputation as a well-known businessman. On this race, flip a coin - Hastert resigned...and Foster won the special election / primary. It's the general election coming up and Oberweis is going to milk this one for all it's worth.
A 13% approval rating is an 87% disapproval rating. Is n't that grounds for impeachment? Can a governor be asked to leave midway through his term? Come clean Blagojevich! Stop avoiding reporters, stop giving canned (rehearsed answers), and if there is any corruption, kickbacks, favors, or malfeasance, just tell us, and we will forgive you. The public can handle the truth. Admitting these actions could boost your approval rating (maybe) and you could be in better shape for the forthcoming election.
Well, maybe not.
87% disapproval (even if there is an undecided constituency) is still a huge mountain to climb. The Tribune's cover says "Blagojevich: 13% approval. " You're in bad shape governor!
I will not tolerate Black women dying over poverty, broken health care, and racism. The Black female death rate is twice that of White women. The sad news is that Black women have a tougher time with breast cancer than other ethnic groups. The American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organizations do great work at raising money for the cure. But inadequate facilities and late diagnosis can plague the chances of a black woman beating breast cancer.
I am fed up with Jon Burge and I have problems with the massive cover-up that has taken years to truly expose. The Chicago Tribune states, "Special prosecutors have alleged that former Chicago Police Cmdr. Jon Burge led the torture of criminal suspects for two decades, coercing dozens of confessions with fists, kicks, radiator burns, guns to the mouth, bags over the head and electric shock to the genitals." Jon Burge pleading the 5th Amendment, skating away into the margins of statute of limitations is bogus. On Garrard McClendon's trial, he's a criminal and I believe the testimonials of the tortured deserve to be heard once again. $20 million is a great settlement, but money and justice aren't synonymous.
"A special prosecutors' report paid for by Cook County and released in 2006 concluded that dozens of suspects had been tortured but that no one could be prosecuted because the statute of limitations had run out" reported Angela Rozas and Jeff Coen from the Chicago Tribune on June 11, 2008. If I'm a torture victim, throw away the statute of limitations!!!
Halie Soifer, Jewish Vote Director for the Barack Obama Campaign, talks to Palm Beach County voters. Staff Photo/Jim Rassol, South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Obama is not friends with anti-Jewish organizations and the Louis Farrakhan references are tired and insulting. The trick bag is filled with tricknology, half-truths, and fear. I am a little taken aback by Barack's committees. Are there directors for every ethnic and religious group in Obama's camp? Irish Vote Director, English Vote Director, German, Italian, Neo-Baptist Swahili Vote Director? Poor Halie says "I think some people have been swayed by all the slurs. They hear something and then their minds are closed." Halie - God Bless you - I'm glad that you're out there dispelling the myths of Barack being an enemy to Jews. You are to be commended. But some people love to be ignorant. It gives them a sense of comfort.
The middle school teacher is the most disrespected professional in education. We ask them to be able to deal with students who are leaving childhood, but aren't yet young adults. We ask them to be specialists in their area of teaching and to experts on the perils of puberty, jealousy, self-esteem, and name-calling.
Now we ask them to gain an endorsement in their subject area for 6th,7th and 8th grade. Shouldn't a "major" detail like this have taken place while in their teacher education programs? Are middle school teachers the "fall-back" teachers who were undecided about elementary or high school?
According to NCLB, you must be certified, with a bachelor's degree, teaching in the area of your major. Don't tell me we have social studies majors teaching science! I would be insulted and in mourning for our students.
I am being robbed, by a parking stub and ticket. Chicago, I used to love you but...parking charges are damaging our relationship. Just to get a bite to eat, I'm charged $25 and taxes on top of the parking fees - you're killin' a brother.
I hear that your mayor is having a wicked shortful in the budget and that people are being asked to stay home for a few days: a sabbatical without pay. Chicago, you're trying too hard to be like New York, L.A., and Pheonix. Taxes, tolls, carpools, fees, excise, surcharge, meters, and a mayor who can't balance a budget.
Lay some people off, get a full day's work from everyone, and we'll see that a city can operate without raising fees. I'm fed up Chicago. I'll visit you in my flying saucer, it doesn't have a windshield wiper blade for you to leave a ticket and I can just hover on top of the parking garage and pay nothing.
Carpool Kenny is about to see a spike in his revenue if the State of Illinois introduces the dreaded carpool lane. I'm not havin' it. The lane of choice shouldn't be dependent upon the number of passengers in the car. You can't charge a toll on my car and then charge me extra because I am the only person in the car. Nonesense! I'll get an air pump, inflate Kenny, and take my chances. If the cops pull me over, I'll say - at least Kenny had his seatbelt administered. He loves talk radio and when someone wants a ride, I can say, "sorry, no room." Taxes and tolls are high enough - and you want to charge me for not carpooling? The state should buy a flying car for me or pay for my broadband so I can work from home.
Photo: Courtesy/Spider Lilies - Film Zero Chou ( 2007)
Spider Lilies, The Crying Game, Brokeback Mountain, Kiss of the Spider Woman. These films give us a glimpse of gay - lesbian lifestyles. But let's face it, unless you are gay or lesbian, you are clueless as to what surfaces throughout the course of the day for a homosexual.
So, should gays and lesbians have separate schools? Chicago Public Schools think so. They say that safety is the issue and that students who are open or closed about their personal choices have a much tougher time getting accepted and living a daily life of security while in school. No one deserves to be mistreated while in school, but should we build a separate high school for every group that wants one? Girls aren't always safe in co-ed schools: so should we segregate all schools? Any school that has bullies isn't safe either. Shouldn't the focus be on ridding a school of violent bullies, regardless of the lifestyles and diversified populations in the school?
Gay - Lesbian Public Schools in Chicago. What are your thoughts?
Is Dan Seals - the truth, or a "face man"? Can he overcome his loss to Mark Kirk back in 2006? Candidate for Congress, Dan Seals, joins me on Garrard McClendon Live. Call the show...talk to Dan. 630-575-TALK (8255).
Watch it at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. - Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 on CLTV.
I thought billboards were for product advertisement - and used occasionally for political campaigns. Apparently, this board has confused travelers and ruffled the feathers of Will County State's Attorney, James Glasgow. His challenger, Judy DeVreindt, has placed two of these boards on two lane highways nestled between Will County farmlands.
It seems as if the boards are confusing because of the double - or "triple" entendre. The board reads, " Have the last four years been open season on women in Will County?" If you don't know the motive or creator of the board, you're spellbound. If you know that Attorney Judy DeVriendt is running against James Glasgow for Will County State's Attorney, then it makes sense.
Is Sarah Palin the victim of sexism in politics? If I call her attractive, am I being a sexist? I think we have the right to be sexist pigs sometimes. After all, it's unintentional most of the time.
Do television news magazines focus more on her physical attributes than her interviewing prowess? She has the "look" down, but the woman needs a crash course in United States History. Beauty Queen or Calculating Coquette?
When is enough, enough? When The Cook County Board says so. First we get socked with 10.25% and now Cook County needs a loan for a hundred million dollars? President Stroger, please come on Garrard McClendon Live and explain...We would appreciate it, my friend.
Look for service cuts and increases on fairs next year. With 5% more people riding CTA and fuel costs elevating, you know your daily cost of going to work, school, and home will become more painful.
I drive a car - so I am not as affected as CTA riders, but I am concerned because I know senior citizens and students who ride. Seniors make up 92,000 free daily rides. Blagojevich was the town crier and pied piper of this benevolent act, but will it snake bite him and the CTA? $30 million spent on fuel alone! $30 million over budget! It may be time for the CTA to hire a good accountant.
Do we vote according to the idealogy of our parents? Or are we truly free thinkers who examine the candidates and their stance on issues? Have you checked Obama and McCain's voting records?
On the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, Senator Barack Obama will accept the nomination, deliver a speech, and continue his quest toward becoming America's next top model -- I mean President. Is there substance in his change movement? What about policy over politics? What would you like Mr. Obama to improve in this country over the next 4 years?
Delmarie Cobb and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. will be guests on GML.
Do you think the Democratic Party is unified? Did Hillary trump or stump on Tuesday night? Can the democratics really beat John McCain and the Republican juggernaut?
Was Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech -- too good? Was she stumping for Obama or campaigning for 2012? I did like the speech...her metaphors and stories were memorable, especially the Harriet Tubman story, the slogans, and the Twin Cities remark about Bush and McCain. What were your thoughts on Hillary at the DNC?
The first day of school: Should you go or not? Arne Duncan takes the hotseat on Garrard McClendon Live. Chicago Public Schools have the herculean task of getting students to school on the first day. Advocates such as Phillip Jackson agree with Duncan. BlackStarProject is sponsoring the Million Father March in hopes of sending children to school holding the hands of their fathers in several cities throughout the U.S.
The after-parties in Denver are going to be obscene...all of those democrats in one city for a whole week. Howard Dean, Alexi Giannoulis, Emil Jones, Jr., Jesse Jackson , Jr., and Michelle Obama are headlining tonight. Will you be watching? Is Obama your presidential candidate?
If you live in Illinois, you know the name: Roland Burris. The CEO of Burris & Lebed Consulting, Burris served as Comptroller and Attorney General of the State of Illinois. Hear his views on Obama/McCain and Vice Presidential candidates tonight on Garrard McClendon Live. Questions for Mr. Burris? Please ask by calling 630-575-TALK at 6:30 p.m. or post a comment below.
Photo: Nancy Stone
