By The Beachwood Olympic Bid Task Force

Outgoing Mayor Richard M. Daley has advised his successor to forget about seeking the 2020 Olympic bid, but the Beachwood Olympic Bid Task Force begs to differ. We just need to change a few things up this time.
* Send Joey the Clown Lombardo to Switzerland for the final vote instead of Oprah.
* Have Mayor Emanuel send a dead fish with a nice note to each member of the IOC.
* Fund the bid via TARP money.
* Replace Pat Ryan with Scott Lee Cohen

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Posted on October 5, 2010

By The Rich Whitney Affairs Desk

Governor’s race got you down? Hate having to choose between the bumbling Governor Gumby and a narrow-minded Neanderthal? You have another option: Green Party candidate Rich Whitney.
But where does Whitney really stand on the issues? In his own words, from his campaign:
State Budget: The fundamental cause of our state deficit is our regressive tax system, which imposes the largest share of the tax burden on those least able to pay. We need to move toward a more progressive system by shielding lower and middle-income working people before raising the individual and corporate income tax, via a measure like HB 174 or SB 750.

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Posted on September 27, 2010

By CHANGE Illinois!

Ninety candidates running for the General Assembly have taken positions on government and election reform issues, but too many legislative candidates are ducking the questions.
The CHANGE Illinois! coalition asked all legislative candidates to answer 20 straightforward questions about reform issues, and the responses from those willing to answer are now available to voters at www.ChangeIL.org. The questionnaire covers a wide range of reform issues, including limits on campaign contributions by legislative leaders, judicial selection, lobbying, redistricting, open government, term limits, and public campaign financing.

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Posted on September 23, 2010

By Steve Rhodes

Folks, when we talk about change in politics we’re really talking about someone like Rich Whitney, the Green Party’s candidate for governor. That is, if we’re serious and not just posing – or weak-kneed, lily-livered liberals. Whitney’s independence, non-partisan appeal, common sense and humane priorities would be a welcome antidote to the Pat Quinns and Bill Bradys of the world. Would he have trouble governing with Michael Madigan lording over all he sees? Well, who hasn’t? But where does change start? Not with Barack Obama, that’s for sure. I hope you’ve all learned your lesson.
Now, this is not a personal endorsement of Whitney. I’ve never met the man and for all I know he’s a royal goofball. But compared to who? Quinn and Brady comprise the most dreadful pair of candidates the private, corporatized major parties have put forth yet. It’s not getting better folks; it’s getting worse. Much, much worse.
It will be no surprise to regular readers that the Beachwood will, in all likelihood, offer its institutional endorsement of Whitney in our annual voters’ guide, just as it has in the past. My challenge to you is this: What, exactly, is wrong with Whitney?

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Posted on September 17, 2010

By The Rich Whitney Campaign

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney issued the following statement today in reaction to Governor Quinn’s selection of Northstar Lottery Group to run the Illinois Lottery system. Whitney is critical of the privatization of the system, the secrecy of the selection process as well as the Lottery itself.
“Quinn has taken pride in his improvements to transparency in government – and to be fair, he has made some. But that makes his invocation of secrecy in this case all the more questionable. I don’t see how he can defend it. He certainly hasn’t provided a rational explanation yet.

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Posted on September 16, 2010

By The Rich Whitney Campaign

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney called today for fair taxation in Illinois.
“Pat Quinn, Bill Brady and Scott Lee Cohen all refuse to say exactly how they would deal with the burning issue of the budget crisis and taxation until after the election,” said Whitney. “This is disrespectful, if not insulting, to Illinois voters. How can voters make an informed choice when they are ducking the issue? In contrast, I provide voters with a clear and detailed road map for solving the crisis, attacking both the spending and the revenue side of the equation.”

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Posted on September 14, 2010

By The Beachwood Bar Association Affairs Desk

“Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s papers are in order,” WBEZ reports. “He could pick up his legal career if he wants to once he leaves City Hall.”
*
“He didn’t do it, heh-heh. Everybody knows that.”

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Posted on September 13, 2010

By Steve Rhodes

Okay, it’s too late for that to happen. But dropping the charges against Blago’s brother amidst a weird groundswell of pundit sympathy hardly equates with justice.
Let’s review.

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Posted on August 31, 2010

By Steve Rhodes

As the Rod Blagojevich Comeback Tour continues with the national media, we hope against hope that the dillrods who keep giving this guy a platform to taint the jury pool takes up its proper responsibilities and asks the former governor the questions prosecutors weren’t able to when he refused to testify on his behalf. And also some other questions prosecutors may have bypassed.
–
1. Every member of your inner circle testified against you – including several not facing any charges and who hadn’t cut any deals with prosecutors. Is it all really just a conspiracy against you?
2. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan just said you lied the other day when you claimed you were about to appoint her to the U.S. Senate. Sure, she’s a political enemy. But Chicago political reporter Mike Flannery said the other day that if you didn’t lie to the FBI, they were the only ones in Illinois you hadn’t lied to. Even while you were still governor you were accused by state lawmakers and others in the system of being a liar. You were forced to sign “Memorandums of Understanding” with legislators who no longer trusted your word. Is everybody lying except you? Why do so many people think you’re a liar?
3. Did you really hide in the bathroom to avoid your budget director?

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Posted on August 24, 2010

By Scott Buckner and Steve Rhodes

Sources say.
* Discloses he was just going to read passages from Moby Dick if he actually was called to the stand.
* Drives to Terre Haute federal pen just to moon George Ryan.
* Dinner with Ozzie Guillen.
* Forms book club with Carlos Zambrano and Billy Dec.
* Replaces Criss Angel on Mindfreak.

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Posted on August 23, 2010