A Chicago Blog

Regardless whether a gas-tax holiday will really do anyone any good, Obama’s failure to anticipate and triangulate the issue is exposing a major weakness of his. Yes, sure. I agree that gas-tax holidays are more pandering than anything else. There are probably better ways to deal with the energy problems. But this is not really [...]

So I went down to see the immigration protests yesterday. I went packing my video camera thinking I would get lots of interesting footage. But sadly, my battery died just as I was making my way to Federal Plaza (piece of crap). So I was left with only the functions available on my Blackberry. Over [...]

Is anybody but me curious about why Jim Thompson is so interested in orchestrating a state purchase of Wrigley Field? The easy answer would be that he’s getting a kick back from someone. And this is Illinois, after all. But the question is who is kicking back to who and where. My best guess at [...]

Here’s the latest from our friends in Reford, MI who are trying to recall the Speaker of the Michigan House, Andy Dillon, because he supported tax increases. The really sad part, beyond the fact that Dillon is using the policy to discourage recall efforts, is that we don’t even have this much democracy in Illinois.

Meanwhile, Illinois Reason is viciously attacking Ann  Leary for viciously attacking Barack Obama. Leary argues that Obama encouraged gang violence when he voted against extending the death penalty to cover gang murders. As a libertarian who is AGAINST the death penalty, I agree with Argus that Leary has gone a little too far with this [...]

I am rethinking my position on the good Reverend Wright. My initial reaction was that Obama’s relationship with this man mattered … and in some small way it still does. But I think, ironically, the more we see of Rev. Wright, the less we are inclined to hold Obama “accountable” for what he says. Is [...]

From the Trib Editorial Page:
Two Chicago Democrats in the Illinois Senate paid a call on the Tribune editorial board last week. When prompted, Kwame Raoul and Heather Steans told us they don’t want a recall amendment added to the state constitution. They do, however, want an amendment to kill the mandate of a flat-rate state [...]

Well, I’m finally back in Chicago after more than a week on the road. I feel like Johnny Cash; I’ve been to Seattle, Denver, Reno, and Vegas. Two days in Seattle were vacation days and I will be posting pictures and video shortly.
It’s good to be home, and the spring weather reminds me that [...]

I’m in Denver on work. We’re doing blogger training here. We call it Samsphere. I’m currently moderating a panel. Hey, look! it’s being live blogged! This creates all sorts of metaphysical quandries.

We should embrace free speech in this country, even when it is offensive. Unerringly. But whenever a certain “speech” touches on our personal or national symbology it is very natural to be outraged. The millions of men and women who have served this country in the military, who have risked their lives, and who have [...]