Marathon Pundit

Thursday, May 01, 2008

A difficult Holocaust Rememberance Day

When World War II ended in Europe, it was more than a victory of two political systems over another--it put an end to the worst wickedness humanity had yet devised.

Many in the Middle East, maybe most people living there (outside of the Israelis), believe that the Holocaust was "invented by the Jews" by such Zionists as "terrorist leader" David Ben Gurion, the Jewish State's first prime minister. The YouTube video, captured by Palestinian Media Watch, was produced by Al-Aqsa TV, a Hamas outlet.

Who went to the death camps? According to the video, Jews sent handicapped and other unhealthy members of their faith, "to gain international sympathy."

When I was last in Washington, Little Marathon Pundit, then nine, was with me, and I didn't feel comfortable taking her to the United States Holocaust Musuem there at such a young age. Next time, for sure.

However, lucky for us, the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center is being built in Skokie, just a couple of miles from my home. Hopefully the schools in the area, including the Muslim ones, will make a trip to the museum a requirement for all of their students.

May 1, 2008 is this year's Holocaust Rememberance Day. We must never forget.

H/T to Fausta's Blog.

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holocaust

מדינת

One month into the baseball season: Chicago White Sox are in first place

It's still very early in the baseball season, but one month into it, I'm pleased to proclaim that the Chicago White Sox are in first place.

True, they're just 14-12, and the teams that the experts thought would dominate the AL Central, Detroit and Cleveland, are off to a slow start. But beefore Opening Day the division was viewed as possibly the toughest in baseball.

Still, first place is first place.

A pleasant surprise for the White Sox is pitcher Gavin Floyd, who spent half of last year's season in the minors, the other half with the South Siders was a disappointment--he was 1-5.

This year he's 2-1, with a 3.12 earned run average. He took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Tigers three weeks ago.

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MLB

Recall amendment dies in Ill. State Senate

This is why we need a new constitution in Illinois. A bill to place a proposal on the November ballot to allow a recall provision for public officials failed in the Illinois State Senate, after easily passing in the House.

Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Chicago Democrat, has allies in the upper chamber, most notably Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), who helped build Barack Obama's record in Springfield.

From AP:

A constitutional amendment that would have allowed voter recall got only 33 of the 36votes needed to pass in an afternoon vote. Nineteen senators voted "no" and two voted "present."

The recall drive has been fueled by frustration over Governor Rod Blagojevich, whose administration is under federal investigation.

But the recall amendment went far beyond recalling state officials. It also would have covered judges and local officials.

If legislators had approved the amendment, it would have been placed on the fall ballot so voters could decide whether to give it final approval.

Meanwhile, initial steps to impeach the unpopular governor have begun in the House.

Related posts:

Obama's state legislative record--he got a lot of help

Illinois corruption update: $25,000 to "pay to play" with governor

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Cook County secession news

Beginning July 1, Chicagoans will be paying the nation's highest sales tax. Second place? Suburban Cook County, where I live.

We can thank that ward-heeler, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger for this indignity. Village officials are openly talking about seceding from Cook, and forming Illinois' 103rd county, which of course will be named for Abraham Lincoln.

Stroger, and I'm not letting up on this point, is the man Barack Obama enthusiastically endorsed in a close contest two years ago, was invited to attend a meeting with Village of Palatine officials and local residents that took place last night. But Stroger backed out the day befored. The meeting went on without him.

From the Chicago Tribune, free registration may be required for the link:

"I'd like to congratulate all of you in taking this courageous step in finally fighting this unbelievably corrupt Cook County," resident Roman Golash, 58, told the council.

The County Board, Golash said, "is just always raising the taxes, higher and higher."

Palatine officials last month called on Stroger to personally explain his $426 million-a-year tax hike and asked the village manager and village attorney to look into ways Palatine might secede from the county.

More...

Despite talk of secession, it has not yet become a serious proposal. Even one of Stroger's harshest critics on the Palatine council, Jack Wagner, said much more information is needed.

But Wagner adds, "It might be time to start looking at it."

A lot of Cook County votes for John McCain will send a strong message to Stroger.

Related post:

Something else for Obama to be silent on: Chicago will have the nation's highest sales tax

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GOP

Join the Illiniois for McCain Google Group

I am not prepared to hand over my state to the Democrats this fall. Luckily, in however small a way, I have the ability to change things via this blog.

So I'm asking Illinois McCain supporters to join the Illinois for McCain Google Group.

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GOP