Mark Dice: What a year!

The departing 2019 was an embarrassing year for leftists, highlighting the Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax.

Iranian-backed thugs attacking US embassy in Iraq

American policy on Iran should be regime change.

From Fox News:

Crowds of angry Iraqis protesting America’s recent airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia laid siege to the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad Tuesday, chanting “Down, Down USA!” as they stormed through a main gate and prompting U.S. troops to fire back tear gas in response.

On Tuesday afternoon the chaotic scene was still unfolding in the Iraqi capital. At least six U.S. soldiers were seen standing on the roof of the main building pointing their firearms at the demonstrators and sounds of gunfire could be heard.

Two Iraqi foreign ministry officials initially told Reuters the U.S. ambassador and staff were evacuated, but U.S. officials pushed back, telling Fox News that the embassy has not been evacuated. Further, an official said Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller was not evacuated but has been out of the country on a previously planned vacation.

“Now Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. They will be held fully responsible,” President Trump tweeted. “In addition, we expect Iraq to use its forces to protect the Embassy, and so notified!”

5 killed and at lest 24 others wounded over weekend in Chicago

The last weekend of the decade saw more shootings in Chicago. Over the last three days five people were shot to death and at least 24 others were wounded.

From Da Tech Guy: Feds have their net out for Illinois’ kraken monster, Boss Michael Madigan

Can the law finally catch up to him? From my post at Da Tech Guy: Feds have their net out for Illinois’ kraken monster, Boss Michael Madigan.

The Clash - Career Opportunities (Live at Shea Stadium)

With a new year nearly here many people resolve to find a new job. Here's a song about the process by the Clash, "Career Opportunities."

Although you might stay out of the job market after a listen.

MSNBC: Booming Economy, Rising Wages Are “A Late Christmas Present,” Con...

I'll never be tired of winning.

(PragerU) The Best of Will Witt 2019

Let's take a look back at the closing year by way of PragerU's Will Witt.

Newsweek op-ed: Pelosi in playing games with Constitution over impeachment

Yes, there is life at Newsweek. In an op-ed Peter Roff exposes the fraud known as the impeachment of Donald J. Trump in an op-ed.

No one can be sure what her intent is. I'm not sure she even knows but her decision to wait before transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate is setting a bad precedent that puts politics ahead of the U.S. Constitution.

For all the work that's gone into addressing the charges against President Donald Trump, it's hard to argue they rise to the level of impeachable offenses. The charge of obstruction of Congress could just as easily be presented as a justifiable defense of executive power for which ample precedent exists. The allegation he abused the power of his office is likewise flawed. While U.S. policy toward Ukraine is legitimately a subject for congressional oversight it is hardly the stuff of which previous presidents were threatened with removal from office.

Remember, early on, how House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opined on the gravity of impeachment and the need for bipartisanship? She got the latter at least, but not as she hoped. It was the Democrats who split their votes. Not a single Republican voted for impeachment. Three Democrats did along with Hawaii's Tulsi Gabbard, who wants to be president and who voted "Present."

Oklahoma Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, a cool-headed senior member of the House of Representatives, may have put it best when he recently tweeted: "After running a totally partisan and closed impeachment process in the House, [Pelosi] now wants an open and bipartisan process in the Senate? That is the height of political hypocrisy!"

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Trump calls Dems 'liars' for pumping brakes on impeachment rush

The leftists were eager to impeach President Trump before he was inaugurated. But because, other than hyper partisanship, they have no case against the president, they want to slow things down. Way down.

The President & First Lady's 2019 Christmas Message

President Donald J. Trump and the First Lady released a Christmas video this morning.

Among the highlights was this wish from Melania:

As we gather with loved ones this holiday, Americans across this land, are grateful for all the men and women in uniform who keep us safe — our military, our police and everyone in law enforcement.

2019 Christmas Decorations at the White House

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Merry Christmas 2019

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

PragerU: @realNapoleonBonaparte

Napoleon is one of the most misunderstood figures in history. Andrew Roberts clears things up in his book, Napoleon: A Life.

And he does so in the latest PragerU video.

Mark Dice: I Didn't Have Any Luck This Time

Mark Dice is losing his mojo, it seems.

Celebrities aren't blocking him like they once did.

4 killed and at least 33 wounded over weekend in Chicago

Chicago hasn't been as violent of late. But early Sunday morning, at a birthday memorial party for an assailant who was killed by a conceal-and-carry holder during a carjacking, 13 people were wounded in a mass shooting. That occurred in Englewood on the South Side.

City-wide four people were killed and at least 33 others wounded, that latter total includes the Englewood carnage.

From Da Tech Guy, Review, The Two Popes

Today at Da Tech Guy I report on the latest major Netflix release. Review: The Two Popes.

13 wounded in mass shooting at memorial party for carjacker at Chicago home

Of late Chicago officials have been patting themselves on the back for the recent decline in shootings.

Then this happens, at a memorial service for a carjacker killed in April.

From CBS Chicago:

Detectives are questioning two people suspected of opening fire at a house party in Englewood overnight, wounding 13 people.

“It’s a terrible tragedy, and frankly an incredible act of cowardice. People were gathered in commemoration of the anniversary of the birth of someone who was killed earlier this year,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said outside the University of Chicago Medical Center, where several victims were being treated Sunday morning.

Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Fred Waller said the shooting happened at a house party in honor of the life of a man who was slain in April. Dozens of officers were called to the scene near 57th and May around 12:30 a.m.

After a dispute at the memorial party for Irvin, someone started shooting inside the house, Waller said. As people were fleeing the house, at least one of those people started shooting at others who were running outside.

Amazingly, Waller called the mass shooting an "isolated incident."

Let's talk about Irvin, He would have turned 23 this weekend had he not been shot to death by the driver of the car that Irvin was attempting to cajrack. The motorist had a conceal-and-carry license and was not charged.

Englewood is a high crime area on the city's South Side.

Eric Clapton - White Christmas (Official Music Video)

With some appealing Claymation, here is the video of Eric Ckapton's rendition of White Christmas.

Biden: “Yes” Willing To Sacrifice 100,000s Of Blue-Collar Jobs For Green New Deal

"Good Ole Joe" fron Scranton, Pennsylvania is the best friend to the working man and the worming woman. Forget that Joe Biden hasn't lived in Scranton since Dwight Eisenhower was president, but "Joe the Regular Guy" is part of his song-and-dance.

But "Lunch Bucket Joe" in Thursday's presidential debate said he's willing to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of blue collar jobs to push thru the leftist nightmare known as the Green New Deal.

Geraldo: Pelosi betrayed by her own impeachment process

Nancy Pelosi is so mentally contorted over how she pushed impeachment of President Trump--that the House may not have actually impeached him.

Mark Dice: What's Up With This Weather Stuff?

Saturday is the first day of winter. So of course global warming hysteria is ramping up!

Biden urges McDonald's employees to unionize. How come the Dems never call for Facebook, Twitter, or Amazon to unionize?

Joe Biden wants employees at McDonald's restaurants to unionize.

Have you noticed that Democratic politicians never call on Facebook or Twitter to have unionized workforces? Of course they don't. Bigtime donor money comes from Silicon Valley. And Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, owns the leftists' beloved Washington Post.

The Dems are such hypocrites.

Oh, has the thought ever occurred to Biden that those tech companies are successful because they are not union shops?

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Ingraham: Liar, liar, liar

Laura Ingraham is right. The House Democrats are liars.

Mark Dice: I Don't Get No Respect!

Mark Dice has a serious side. Really.

Tucker: Impeachment is a terrible idea for the country

President Trump has been the victim of an impeachment investigation in search of a crime for over three years.

Tucker believes that impeachment is a horrible idea for America. He's right.

John Stossel: The Case Against Socialism

If you are a thinking person you believe that the case for socialism is closed. It's a failure. But Rand Paul has writing a book titled The Case Against Socialism.

Trump leads all Democrats in USA Today poll

So much winning.

And USA Today is a liberal paper too.

The national survey, taken as the House of Representatives planned an impeachment vote and the Senate a trial, showed Trump defeating former Vice President Joe Biden by 3 percentage points, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders by 5 points, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren by 8 points.

In hypothetical head-to-head contests, Trump also led South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg by 10 points and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg by 9.

Dem Unhinged: Dem Rep Calls Rep Van Drew A “Traitor” And A “Rat” For Opp...

The Democrats are getting unhinged over the impeachment flop.

Mark Dice on the Star Wars franchise: NOT AGAIN!

Once a fan, Mark Dice has been turned off by the political correctness and the feminization of the Star Wars franchise.

From Da Tech Guy: Trump impeachment leads my list of recent legendary flops

Our president is a ground breaking one. In so many ways as I explain at Da Tech Guy today: Trump impeachment leads my list of recent legendary flops.

John Mellencamp - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Here's a great Midwestern rocker, John Mellencamp, belting out a Christmas classic, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

(PragerU) The Electoral College Is Essential!

Will Wit of PragerU tells us why the Electoral College is crucial for the survival of our democracy.

Looking for an Amazon gift card? Head over to Marathon Pundit!

In need of that last minute Christmas gift? You are in the right place. How 'bout an Amazon.com gift card? Click on the link below. You pay nothing extra and I get a tiny commission that gets plowed back into the blog.

Conservatives, Brexit, win big in the UK

Much like the 2016 Brexit vote, as well as the US presidential election that same year, the elites suffered a big defeat at the ballot box yesterday in Great Britain. The major pro-Brexit party in the UK, the Conservatives, won big. Britain will be leaving the European Union, the British version of the Deplorables has won. Again.

This is good tidings for the 2020 election in the United States.

Levin: Every president would be subject to impeachment under Dems' current articles

Watch as Mark Levin runs down the abuses of prior presidents. Trump's so-called crimes don't measure up.

Stocks soar on optimism of trade deal with China

There is so much winning. And to think leftists want to impeach President Trump. Maybe they want to do so because America is winning.

From Marketwatch:

U.S. stocks surged to new records Thursday propelled by reports the U.S. and China had reached at trade deal to avoid new tariffs due on Sunday, and roll back existing levies, in exchange for purchases of American agricultural products.

The benchmark S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite indexes closed at record highs while the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a new intraday record.
How are benchmarks performing?

The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.79% closed 220.75 points, or 0.8% higher, at 28,132.05, just shy of a new all-time high. The S&P 500 index SPX, +0.86% gained 26.95 points, or 0.9%, to close at 3,168.58, and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.73% added 63.27 points, or 0.7%, to 8,717.32, both new records. The Russell 2000 RUT, +0.79% gained 15.63 points, 1%, to close at a new all-time high of 1,647.56.

CNN’s Borger: Polls of independent voters on impeachment "Do not look good for Democrats"

President Donald J. Trump is winning. And impeachment is losing. And the Democrats, according to CNN's Gloria Borger, are doing poorly on impeachment in regards to polling of independent voters.

Dem rep will vote "No" on impeachment

And he says others may join him.

From USA Today:

Democratic Rep. Jeff Van Drew said Wednesday that he will vote against articles of impeachment that outline the case for President Trump's removal from office, becoming the first Democrat to publicly say he will not vote with his colleagues.

Van Drew, a Democrat who represents a district in New Jersey that favored Trump by five points in 2016, has been a vocal opponent to the impeachment effort examining whether Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump denies the allegations and has called the inquiry a "hoax."

Van Drew said that he did not think Trump's conduct was grounds for impeachment and that impeachment would only end up helping the president in 2020.

"I don't see anything there worthy of actually taking a president out of office," he said. "I'm concerned about splitting our nation apart."

Time's Person of the Year is Greta Thunberg

When I learned this news of course it was snowing where I live.

From NBC News:

Greta Thunberg, the soft-spoken Swedish teen who became a global conscience for climate change and environmental activism, has been named Time’s Magazine’s Person of the Year for 2019.

The magazine announced 16-year old Thunberg as its choice Wednesday exclusively on "TODAY."

"She became the biggest voice on the biggest issue facing the planet this year, coming from essentially nowhere to lead a worldwide movement," Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal told "TODAY," adding that Thunberg is the magazine's youngest choice ever to be named Person of the Year.

Mark Dice on impeachment: Nobody even cares--and they can't believe it!

Most Americans are going about their lives as if impeachment means nothing to them.

Because it doesn't.

Trump, House Democrats, agree on USMCA

In a cynical move likely to appease Democrats representing pro-Trump districts--my guess is the House Dems agreed to its timing--an accord on the replacement of NAFTA, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, was reached this morning between President Trump and the lower chamber.

Of course today the House announced its two vague impeachment charges this morning as well.

Called out on bipartisan opposition to impeachment, Illinois Dem congressman Quigley calls it "extraordinarily marginal"

One of the embarrassments among the Democrats in the House of Representatives is Mike Quigley (D-IL). During a House Intelligence Committee impeachment hearing last month, Quigley remarked, "Hearsay can be much better evidence" than direct evidence. Really? Hearsay evidence can only be used in court for exceptionally unique reasons, such as in the Drew Peterson case. You remember him? He's nasty Illinois ex-cop whose wives kept vanishing.

This morning Quigley struck dog dirt again. Support for impeachment is a monoculture of Dems. Opposition to it is bipartisan, although so far only a very few Democrats appear to be against it. When confronted on CNN with this reality, Quigley responded that this opposition is "extraordinarily marginal."

The odds of the president being removed from office by the Senate is also extraordinarily marginal, Mike.

Trump impeachment charges based on Democrats hatred of him

Yes, the Democrats have been talking about impeaching President Trump ever since his upset victory over Hillary Clinton three years ago.

Or, in the words of US Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), "We're going to impeach the mother*cker."

Today House Democrats announced two broad impeachment charges against him, abuse of power and obstruction of justice.

They have nothing on Trump. Oh, except this item: they hate him.

From Da Tech Guy: Review of Who, the new album by the Who

It was forty years ago yesterday. What am I talking about? Click on the link to learn more: Review of Who, the new album by the Who.

(PragerU) The Amazing History of Christmas

William Federer, the author of There Really Is A Santa Claus, recounts the fascinating history of the Christmas holiday.

Mark Dice: Bernie Sanders Get BIG Endorsement

The socialist center has the backing of someone who has become quite wealthy under the capitaliist system.

Day after retired priest charged in deadly hit-and-run, church website still links to his retirement video

Last week a teacher a teacher at St. Michael's School in Orland Park, Illinois was killed by a hit and run driver. Another educator was injured. The church's former pastor, Paul Burak, faces charges regarding All were in attendance at a Christmas party in the southwest Chicago suburb.

From ABC Chicago:

Investigators said Burak was driving drunk when he hit the women, then kept on driving.

According to prosecutors, the former priest admitted to police that he was "blacked out" and drunk after drinking a Manhattan cocktail and a glass of wine.

Burak is charged with aggravated DUI causing death, aggravated DUI causing bodily harm, failure to report an accident causing death and failure to report an accident causing injury.

This news broke last night. According to ABC Chicago, Burak suffers from glaucoma and Parkinson's disease.

On the St. Michael's web site, there's still a link to the Burak retirement video, which is also posted on YouTube.

Hello St. Mike's Church: Perhaps you need to update your website.

From Mark Levin by way of Doug Ross: The Next Democrat President Must be Impeached

Has the Great One, Mark Levin, ever been wrong: MARK LEVIN: The Next Democrat President Must be Impeached.

Silent Night 1977 (Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins)

A silent winter night, a clear one, means a dazzling view of the stars. And there are so many here as Johnny Cash is joined by Roy Clark, Carl Perkins, Roy Oribson, and of course June Carter Cash to perform "Silent Night."

Biden refuses to admit it was wrong for his son to serve on Burisma board while he was VP

During an interview in Iowa with Telemundo’s José Díaz-Balart, Joe Biden wouldn't admit it was wrong for his son Hunter to serve on the board of Burisma while he was vice president.

Tapper: Vote against impeachment will be bipartisan

I'm sure it pained "Fake Jake" Tapper to say this, but support for impeachment is only a Democratic thing. Opposition to it is bipartisan.

Mark Dice: Super Joe!

Did Joe Biden call an Iowa voter fat?

Go by way of Marathon Pundit when Christmas shopping on Amazon

Here's another opportunity for you to say "thank you," without paying anything extra, by clicking on an Amazon ad when you are shopping.

I get a tiny commision--and that money gets plowed into the blog.

Dem rep Al Green: "No limit to the number of times" Dems will try to impeach Trump

Congressman Al Green of Texas should be the face of the Democratic Party. Previously he said that President Trump needs to be impeached--and presumably removed from office as well--because otherwise he'll be reelected.

Now Green says that there is "no limit to the number of times" that the president can be impeached.

John Stossel: One Fix for Hollywood Bias

There is all kinds of diversity in Hollywood. Except for diversity of thought.

That means conservatism, John Stossel says, is difficult to find in the entertainment industry.

Mark Dice: Bye Bye Kamala!

Kamala Harris was viewed as a top contender for the Democratic nomination for president.

Now she's out of money and out of the race.

Kennedy: Lisa Page playing the victim is ‘laughable’

Fox Business' Kennedy isn't buying Lisa Page's victim status.

Fired Chicago police chief found slumped over in his SUV was out drinking with woman not his wife

I was always suspicious about the "retirement" of Chicago's police chief. Mayor Lori Lightfoot yesterday fired him.

From WGN-TV:

During a press conference Monday, Lightfoot told reporters she had reviewed the inspector general's report of the incident, as well as video, and was left with no choice but to fire Johnson.

“I saw things that were inconsistent with what Mr. Johnson had told me personally and what he revealed to members of the public,” she said.

Sources said the city inspector general's office obtained video of Johnson drinking for a few hours on the evening of Oct. 16 with a woman who was not his wife at the Ceres Cafe, a popular restaurant and bar at the Chicago Board of Trade building.

Later that night around 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 17, Johnson was spotted slumped over the wheel of his black SUV near his Bridgeport home.

Johnson blamed his dozing off on a mix up with medication.

Two months ago Johnson refused to attend a speech by President Donald Trump at police chiefs convention held in Chicago, citing Chicago "values."

PragerU: The Myth of Voter Suppression

The latest theme from the Democrats about Donald Trump and the Republican Party is that it is a cult.

Rather, it's the Dems who lead a cult by perpetuating falsehoods--such as the existence of voter suppression in America.

Jason Riley, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, sheds truth in this latest PragerU video.

Mark Dice: Brian Stelter is a Star!

Mark Dice really did make Brian Stelter, the host of the ludicrously named "Reliable Sources" on CNN, a star.

From Da Tech Guy: Evanston, Illinois’ use of weed taxes for reparations won’t solve deeper problems

Really? Slavery reparations? From my post at Da Tech Guy: Evanston, Illinois’ use of weed taxes for reparations won’t solve deeper problems.

The Kinks - Father Christmas 1977

One of the greatest Christmas rockers is by the Kinks, "Father Christmas."

Here the blokes from North Landon are performing it in 1977 for German television.

Woman kidnapped and sexually assaulted for over six days in Chicago

Some people are just vile.

From Fox Chicago:

Police are searching for a man who kidnapped a woman in Englewood and held her captive in a basement for six days, where she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by several people.

The woman was walking to a bus stop between 5 and 6 p.m. Nov. 23 in the 6700 block of South Halsted Street, when a man in a pickup truck pulled over and punched her in the side of the head, Chicago police said. He dragged her into his truck and drove her to a home in an unknown location and locked her in the basement.

She was sexually assaulted by multiple people over the course of her imprisonment, police said. She was let go Friday.

Police said the man was in his early 40s with a bald head, black beard and brown eyes. He was between 6 feet and 6 feet, 2 inches tall with a medium build.

Illinois state senator whose office was raided by FBI resigning

In an old-fashioned "news dump," that is, releasing embarrassing or humiliating news so as few people as possible can learn about it, a powerful Illinois Democratic politician announced that he is quitting his office. That is why I'm reporting on it today.

Two state legislative districts comprise Martin Sandoval's state Senate district. One of those areas is represented by Boss Michael Madigan.

From ABC Chicago:

An Illinois state senator under federal investigation for fraud has resigned his office.

In a Wednesday letter to the Secretary of the Senate, Chicago Democrat Martin A. Sandoval said his resignation will be effective Jan. 1.

FBI agents raided Sandoval's Springfield and Chicago offices and home earlier this year seeking data on concrete and construction businesses, bribery or theft of federal funds.

After the Sept. 24 raid, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others demanded Sandoval step down as chairman of the Transportation Committee. Pritzker expressed concern about the integrity of his $41.5 billion state construction program, in which Sandoval took a leading role last spring.

Buttigieg names "climate change" as the cause of Syria's civil war

Pete Buttigieg earlier this week at a rally in Iowa said that climate is the cause of the ongoing civil war in Syria.

Wrong. Sectarian violence is the main driver in this conflict.

(Photos) 2019 Long Grove Turkey Trot

I ran another race today, the Long Grove Turkey Trot. There were two competitions, a 5 kilometer run and an 8K. I entered the latter.

Long Grove is a town in Lake County, Illinois with lots of little shops and boutiques. In the old town many of the buildings are in the style of what you'd expect in the late 19th century small town in the Midwest.

That's me, in orange, next to the runner in the neon green. Here's tip if you want to be spotted by a loved one in a race--wear bright colors.

All photographs for this blog entry were taken by Mrs. Marathon Pundit.

Or, if you want to noticed by everyone, wear an outlandish outfit, such as a skirt with autumn colors and a roasted turkey hat.

I remember these paper turkey plumage table displays from my youth.

Free beer at mile one!

Start them running young.

It appears that I was Photoshopped into this picture. I was not.

Well, hello there!

What did I say about being noticed?

Let's hear it for the Trot Squad.

Our Wyoming pilgrim.

Other than Independence Day, Thanksgiving is the most American of major holidays.

All good runs--whether 5 kilometers long or 8 kilometers--come to an end.

Another successful race for me--third in my age group!

Trump in Afghanistan for Thanksgiving

Our president is visiting the troops on Thanksgiving in Afghanistan.

WaPo’s Bade: Impeachment Polling A “Warning Sign,” “Problem” For Democrats

Polls are what the Democrats live by.

And the Dems can't move the needle on impeachment.

Tomi Lahren sounds off after Melania Trump is booed at youth event

The first lady was booed at a youth event in Baltimore. Fox Nation's Tomi Lahren weighs in?

Where do these kids learn their disrespect?

From their parents.

And their teachers.

Mark Dice on Michael Bloomberg: Well, That Didn't Go As Planned

Michael "Nanny" Bloomberg's presidential campaign is already off to a bumpy start.

Dem rep: “We are so close to an election…I don’t see the value of taking him out of office"

US Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), whose district covers part of Detroit, is now longer on the impeachment bandwagon.

Hillary Clinton won nearly 80 percent of the vote in her district in 2016.

From Fox News:

Michigan Democratic Rep. Brenda Lawrence, a prominent supporter of Kamala Harris who has previously supported the impeachment inquiry into President Trump, abruptly announced Sunday that she no longer saw any "value" in the process and called for her fellow Democrats to throw their support behind a symbolic censure resolution.

Lawrence's about-face came as polls have shown that independents are souring on the idea of impeaching and removing Trump from office, including in critical battleground states like Wisconsin, even as House Democrats aggressively presented their focus-group-tested "bribery" case against the president over the past two weeks.

"We are so close to an election," Lawrence said Sunday on a Michigan radio program, noting that Trump stands little chance of being convicted by the GOP-controlled Senate. "I will tell you, sitting here knowing how divided this country is, I don't see the value of taking him out of office. But I do see the value of putting down a marker saying his behavior is not acceptable. It's in violation of the oath of office of a president of the United States, and we have to be clear that you cannot use your power of the presidency to withhold funds to get a foreign country to investigate an American citizen for your own personal gain. There's no way around that."

Lawrence continued: "I want him censured. I want it on the record that the House of Representatives did their job and they told this president and any president coming behind him that this is unacceptable behavior and, under our Constitution, we will not allow it. ... I am a Democrat, but I am an independent United States of America citizen."

Here is the audio:

Turkey pro quo? Chicago alderman denies requiring ballot petition signatures for free ready-to-eat turkeys

Amazingly, if this is true, a quid pro quo for free stuff in exchange for ballot qualification signatures is not illegal in ILL-inois.

From CBS Chicago:

A West Side resident said an alderman’s turkey giveaway came with a price.

The resident said the turkey was only provided in exchange for signatures to help two candidates get back on the ballot next year.

CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov on Monday dug into whether anyone broke the law.

Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) handed out hundreds of ready-to-cook Thanksgiving birds for free at her annual turkey giveaway at McNair School of Excellence, 4820 W. Walton St., on Saturday.

CBS Chicago says the petitions were for the candidacies of Mitts, who is running for reelection as Democratic ward committeeman, and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, the leftist lunatic who dropped all of the charges against hate crime hoaxter Jussie Smollett.

Biden snaps at Fox News reporter for question about Hunter Biden's illegitimate son

In case you missed this one, a Fox News reporter asked Joe Biden about his son Hunter's illegitimate son.

Two dead and at least 19 wounded over weekend in Chicago

There was just one fatal shooting over the weekend in Chicago, a man was gunned down in the Taylor Street neighborhood on the Near West Side Friday night. Nearby on Sunday morning a University of Illinois-Chicago woman was strangled to death. Her body was discovered in a car in a campus parking garage. In this case, a person of interest is in police custody.

Elsewhere at least 19 people were wounded by gunfire over the weekend.

From Da Tech Guy: Welcome to the Age of Criminals

San Francisco just elected the son of two Weather Underground terrorists, whose guardians were fellow radicals Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, as district attorney. Here in Cook County another leftist, Kim Foxx, is the top prosecutor. Read more at Da Tech Guy: Welcome to the Age of Criminals.

Fleetwood Mac - Tusk (Official Music Video)

My favorite Fleetwood Mac album is Tusk.

Here's the title track. It features the University of Southern California marching band.

Milwaukee man used underground bunker for 10 years charged in gun crime

News from beyond the Cheese Curtain form the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:

Hiding in plain sight.

That's how Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas described 41-year-old Geoffrey Graff, who had stockpiled four guns, three knives and ammunition in an underground bunker near the Milwaukee River.

Graff of Milwaukee told police he had been using the bunker for "seven or 10 years," according to a criminal complaint.

Graff was charged Friday with possession of a short-barreled shotgun and second-degree recklessly endangering safety with the use of a firearm.

Rep. Stefanik: Adam Schiff is an abject failure

US Rep. Elise Stefanick (R-NY) isn't a rising star in Congress.

She's already a star. Watch her tear US Rep. Adam Schiff to pieces here.

Rep. Jordan: Dems have "never gotten over the fact" that Trump won in 2016

US Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is a bright light in Congress. Yesterday he told reporters, correctly, that Democrats have "never gotten over the fact that Trump won the presidency three years ago.

Decline and fall: Woman injured in downtown Chicago by falling light pole

With so much taxpayer money going to public worker pensions--also know as delayed compensation to unions promised by Chicago Democrats--you can expect many more stories like this one.

From CBS Chicago:

A woman was injured Thursday afternoon when a street light pole fell on her outside the Thompson Center.

More...

CBS 2’s Dana Kozlov reports the injured woman was taken away in an ambulance. The extent of her injuries were not immediately known.

A witness said she was crossing the street when she heard a crack and saw it fall. She rushed to help the injured woman.

CBS 2 Investigator Dave Savini has found thousands of complaints about fallen poles across the city, identifying the neighborhoods most at risk. The 42nd Ward, which includes the Loop, had the second highest number of complaints.

State law needs to be changed so municipalities and government agencies can declare bankruptcy. And the state constitution's pension guarantee clause needs to be amended.

Netanyahu indicted

This is not good.

From CNBC:

Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced Thursday that he was indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu has previously denied any wrongdoing and has said he is the victim of a politically orchestrated “witch-hunt” by the media and the left.

It comes while Netanyahu is serving as Israel’s caretaker prime minister after he failed to cobble together a government last month.

Another city holiday? Bankrupt-in-all-but name Chicago wants to make Juneteenth a paid municipal day off

Surprisingly, the partially union-owned and leftist Chicago Sun-Times is chilly to the idea of Chicago adding another paid city worker holiday on its calendar that is stuffed with them.

Fewer paid holidays is a much better idea.

From the Sun-Times:

The cash-strapped city of Chicago has been roundly criticized over the years for granting city employees far more paid holidays than their counterparts in private industry.

If Aldermen Maria Hadden (49th) and David Moore (17th) have their way, the city would add yet another: June 19th.

At Wednesday’s City Council meeting, Hadden and Moore introduced an ordinance requiring City Hall and other local government buildings to be closed on the date known as “Juneteenth” to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

“It is not enough for the city of Chicago to just have parades, barbecues and events celebrating Juneteenth. Chicago must recognize Juneteenth as an official city holiday, which will help support the campaign to recognize ‘Juneteenth National Freedom Day’ as a national holiday,” the preamble to the ordinance states.

Mark Dice: Poor Ol' Joe!

The circus, I mean the Democratic debates, were back in town last night.

'Antifa' protesters arrested after shutting down conservative speaker

I'll wager a tidy sum that until they learned Art Laffer, a former Reagan administration official who is generally accepted as the father of supply-side economics, was scheduled to speak at Binghamton University, the Antifa protesters would not be able to pick him apart from a cast member of the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. But Laffer is a conservative--so "tear him apart!"

Leftists do not support free speech.

Former Baltimore mayor indicted on tax and fraud charges

Baltimore, a corrupt city, has not has a Republican mayor in over 50 years. In its most recent Democratic primary, Catherine Pugh edged Sheila Dixon. Pugh won in the general election, as for Dixon, she was convicted on a misdemeanor embezzlement charge in 2009. Now Pugh faces legal problems.

From the Baltimore Sun:

Federal prosecutors have charged former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh with 11 counts of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy in what they allege was a corrupt scheme involving her sales of a self-published children’s book series.

In a grand jury indictment made public Wednesday, prosecutors allege Pugh defrauded area businesses and nonprofit organizations with nearly $800,000 in sales of her “Healthy Holly” books to unlawfully enrich herself, promote her political career and illegally fund her campaign for mayor.

Though her customers ordered more than 100,000 copies of the books, the indictment says Pugh failed to print thousands of copies, double-sold others and took some to use for self-promotion. Pugh, 69, used the profits to buy a house, pay down debt, and make illegal straw donations to her campaign, prosecutors allege.

At the same time, prosecutors said, she was evading taxes. In 2016, for instance, when she was a state senator and ran for mayor, she told the Internal Revenue Service she had made just $31,000. In fact, her income was more than $322,000 that year ― meaning she shorted the federal government of about $100,000 in taxes, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

Chicago cop shot in head on Northwest Side, 15 year-old also wounded

I work in Des Plaines. And the last time I checked Old Irving Park was a pretty good neighborhood.

From CBS Chicago:

A Chicago Police officer was shot in the side of the head Tuesday night in a gun battle with a bank robbery suspect on Irving Park Road near the Kennedy Expressway.

Two others were also shot.

The shooting happened early Tuesday evening. Sources said it all started with a bank robbery in Des Plaines that led to a chase all the way to Irving Park Road near Kildare Avenue.

Sources told CBS 2’s Charlie De Mar that the suspected bank robber went into UpBeat Music and Arts music school, 4318 W. Irving Park Rd. Police went in after him, and shots were fired.

Caught in the crossfire was a 15-year-old boy.

And to think just yesterday it was a rare Chiraq day when no one was shot.

Student gov't at Michigan college votes to remove Pledge of Allegiance from meetings

I guess these woke SOBs at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan don't like "liberty and justice for all."



UPDATE November 21:

Because of a justifiable backlash, student government leaders at GVSU say they will restore the pledge at their meetings next week.

Hubris: Outgoing suburban Detroit city council votes itself free lifetime health care

Here is a lesson in hubris.

From the Detroit Free Press:

It's the kind of last-second, secretive move that politicians weren't supposed to do anymore — not with demands everywhere for government transparency.
Yet, old-time politicking seems alive and well in Warren.

The seven members of the Warren City Council on Sept. 10 voted themselves lifetime health care benefits, just before several members were to be term-limited off the board. The unanimous vote, for what critics call a golden parachute, would saddle taxpayers with untold future costs. But it wasn’t even on the night’s agenda.

And it was kept under wraps long enough to exceed the 72-hour limit for a mayoral veto, Mayor Jim Fouts declared Monday. The costly benefit was worded so as to apply to anyone who'd ever served on the City Council. That includes Fouts, who served 26 years on the council before being elected mayor, although he said he was adamantly opposed to the plan.

"I'm absolutely not going to implement this," Fouts said, almost shouting into the phone.