From time to time the Republic invites guest posts. Republic friend Archer has submitted a piece that is thoughtful and shows the transformation of the Democratic party from FDR’s party of the common man to the convoluted party of NO that it has become today. This is seen through the eyes of a man raised to believe in the party and its connection to the betterment of all. It also shows how even the “hereditary Democrats” (to use a term from my Father-In-Law) should have serious cause to look deep into what their party does stand for in the 21st Century, if they stand for anything at all. Unfortunately the same loss of soul can be attributed to the conservative wing of the Republican party. Please enjoy this excellent piece:

The Democrat Party, the party of the working class. At least that is the myth under which I was raised. My great grandfather, trying to raise a family in the depression, saw FDR and “the Party” as a savior. The efforts of the Democrats of that era built a lifelong commitment from the people that supported them. In fact, a commitment that spanned generations. My great grandfather was precinct committeeman, my grand father a loyal union man and party fundraiser. My father was also a loyal union man and strong party supporter.

Then and only then, should we close all of our bases and leave.

Posted by Biloxi in Guest Post at 12:04 PM EDT

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In true Illinois and Cook County tradition Bradley Stephens, Rosemont, IL trustee will be named to fulfill the remainder of his father’s term as Mayor of the Chicago suburb. Donald Stephens the first and only Mayor of Rosemont passed away on April 18th after battling stomach cancer.

In what has become a disturbing reality in Chicago and the surrounding areas we have seen a spate of hereditary successions to political office. Whether it be by death, illness, resignation or retirement the elected officials of the area seem to think political office is the family business and the offices within are for them to bestow upon family as they see fit.

This is an area that has seen Todd Stroger succeed his incapacitated father as head of the Cook County board, though wholly unqualified. Dan Lipinski stepped in to fill his father’s congressional seat after a post primary late withdrawal in the 2004 race, and interim President Bobbie Steele passed his county board seat to her son. These are but a few among many cases and it is no surprise, though one does weary of the practice. My proximity to my father did not make me a great die maker and neither does it make these beneficiaries of nepotism good representatives of their constituency. Often their prior public service is pointed out as a qualification but frequently that public service was a result of familial machinations more than any type of qualification. In Illinois this seems to cut across party lines (as if we really had anything resembling an option), as both sides have taken advantage of their power to enrich their progeny or other relatives. This is often done at the expense of the governed.

Stephens tenure saw the tiny Village of Rosemont grow to become a convention and entertainment powerhouse in the Chicago area. While the municipality benefits from excellent geographical location its growth was shepherded by the elder Stephens during his 51 year tenure and for that he deserves praise, but no such accolades should be given to the son who apparently is a winner in the lucky gene club.

It is about time we start looking at qualification over family connection and substance over a particular surname. Otherwise we need not bother going to the polls and instead can watch the birth announcements and society pages to determine our representation. We have a voice and we need to start using it at the ballot box lest we lose it forever.

Posted by Biloxi in Illinois Politics, Politics at 7:49 PM EDT

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In a continuation of a post from yesterday I find myself amazed at how the inmates have begun to run the asylum and in many cases made the asylum staff feel guilty for doing their jobs in the first place.

Today’s follow up article in the Chicago Tribune, on the raid of a fake identification ring in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago leaves me shaking my head in amazement when I see the audacity of many of the amnesty advocates.

The false identification ring was a threat to our national security let alone a criminal enterprise selling fraudulent identification to people illegally in this country. Not all of the clientèle of this operation were Hispanic either.

Each day the ring, employing some 15 to 20 runners, lookouts and outdoor salesmen, sold as many as 100 “high-quality” fake driver’s licenses, Social Security cards or resident alien cards, for as much as $300 apiece, Fitzgerald said. Customers from Mexico, Pakistan, Poland and other countries flocked daily to the site at 26th Street and Albany Avenue, he said.

Illegal immigration proponents were quick to call the action intimidation and specify how they thought law enforcement should carry about their very risky duties. We have heard not a mention from any of the protesters about the fact that one of the ringleaders was soliciting murder, an offense dangerous enough to warrant the show of force. Are they to assume a murderer would show restraint and respect the authority of the law officers? Many of those buying the false documentation were from countries not considered as friendly and could reasonably be assumed as hostile to the United States government considering their underground status.

There is even forces within our government who cannot see the righteousness of the cause as they ply their open borders philosophy in a cheap attempt to gain votes from people they see as a potential constituency with the power to influence the outcome of elections.

U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) called the federal action “counterproductive,” adding “people are going to be angry” when they hit the streets at the immigration-reform rally on Tuesday.

With federal deportation raids continuing nationwide, as Congress weighs alternative immigration reforms, Latino immigrants “feel singled out,” Gutierrez said. “It drives a deep wedge.”

Let them be angry, it is the law abiding citizens of the United States that should be the angry ones; whether they be native born or naturalized. We have gone from an what was an illegal population looking for work, to a group that makes demands that we should accept their presence as legitimate even though it defies the law, and and we are expected to feel guilty about it to boot. Any insistence on upholding the law or resentment towards the interlopers is met with false charges of racism and/or intolerance. We need not and should not accept this behavior and insist on consistent enforcement of our borders as a prelude to any further reform. When we staunch the flow of new illegals we can start to consider the larger issues of guest workers and what to do do with the illegals already here. Without respect for the law it is pointless to enact new law. What is to say that the next wave will respect the new (after amnesty) law? The continual pushing of the boundaries is how we got here in the first place. History has told us they will not as the amount of illegals in the country is triple what it was twenty years ago when amnesty was granted the first time.

Another issue is the readiness of the protesters as they showed up while the raid was still in progress bearing signs, drums and bullhorns. These are not just a bunch of scared illegal workers wishing for a better life. they are organized and attempting to change our way of life by taking it, with no respect for the law whatever.

Why didn’t you do the arrests at the homes of these people and not at a shopping mall, where people were there with their children?” Emma Lozano, an organizer of next week’s march, asked Fitzgerald. “They were terrorized. They were frightened. They didn’t know what was going on. The whole community was disrupted.”

Emma Lozano is a community organizer that promotes amnesty. You might remember her for her connections to the Elvira Arellano case in Humboldt Park. She and her husband are the ones who harbor Ms. Arellano as she defies deportation.

Rafael Pulido, whose Spanish-language “El Pistolero” morning radio program was swamped with angry and worried phone calls Wednesday, found himself trying to simultaneously calm fears and spur his listeners to action.

Mr. Pulido was an illegal once himself and benefited from the 1984 amnesty. Now he suggests others do the same proving the case that law is nothing without enforcement. Every inch we give pushes us closer to the day when we have no expectations of visitors to our sovereign nation, instead we just acquiesce to whatever their demand of the week will be. We used to be a nation of law and respect. Now our politicians attempt to turn us into a whimpering population without the moral underpinnings to put our foot down and demand others respect our country and its laws.

It is called moral relativism and it stinks to high heaven. While we may have sympathy for the plight of many of these people we cannot let our compassion override our authority as a nation to govern our own country and control the flow of those who enter our borders. When everyone is allowed to make their own morality it means we really have none left at all.

Posted by Biloxi in Immigration, Social Issues at 9:51 PM EDT

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In a speech today, Republican Presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani bluntly stated that if a Democrat was elected to the White House in 2008 we would be “going on defense” and “we’re going to wave the white flag there.” In his speech he was expanding on comments made yesterday where he accused the Democrats of not understanding the terrorists and wanting to take us back to not being on alert. Essentially he is talking about a 9/10 mindset.

Of course the Donkey Presidential Wannabe Chorus felt it necessary to chime in with their “rebukes” that sounded more like excuses. All three of the front running trio of John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama chastised Giuliani for what they termed “political attacks” though they never really outlined how their positions of pulling out of Iraq, closing Guantanamo and rolling back many of the protections in the Patriot Act makes us safer and more vigilant or proactive in protecting the American public from terrorism.

Considering the options for the Democratic nomination for President and their stated positions, one would find it hard to refute Giuliani’s statements in this regard. I would like to hear them say how he is wrong instead of crying politics at every turn. The Democrats as a party in recent years have advocated this exact position with very few exceptions. It is not only the Iraq war position that proves this but also their opposition to warrantless wiretapping, many provisions in the the Patriot Act and their cries for Constitutional protections for foreign nationals who wish to harm Americans in as large a quantity as possible.

They are more worried about our “standing in the world” than our safety in our homes. Damn the perception of malcontents or the jealous. Our value as a country is in our charity, our selflessness and our bravery on behalf of ourselves and others and in this America has it in spades. No other country has sent as many gallant young men and women to free others. No other country was the linchpin that kept Communism from taking over more of Europe than it did and certainly no other country risks as much as the United States when it comes to this war in which we are attempting to eradicate terrorism. We have some stalwart allies in The United Kingdom and Australia and their contribution is large, but nothing compares to that of our great country. Our world standing is the steel in our spines, the strength of our resolve, the depth of our compassion and the size of our heart; in the world all are unmatched.

Mr. Giuliani may not be the best conservative but on national security, he certainly gets it. Obviously the aforementioned Democrats don’t, it is in the words they use and more importantly those they don’t. While I would like a true conservative in the White House, I have to go with America’s Mayor on this one. God Bless America and may he watch over those in harm’s way.

Posted by Biloxi in Politics, War on Terror at 9:36 PM EDT

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Federal authorities announced charges today for 22 individuals involved in a fraudulent ID ring run out of a shopping plaza in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. Some were arrested yesterday in the a raid of the plaza while others are still fugitives.

The raid angered many Hispanic residents of the area who called the raid intimidation and vowed to use this incident to build momentum for their planned march on May 1. Activists in the neighborhood mobilized quickly arriving at the scene with pre-prepared signs and megaphones. There appears to be more to this than pure intimidation as announced by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in a press conference this afternoon. The alleged ring had been providing up to 100 pieces of false identification daily.

But when asked about the tactics at today’s news conference, Fitzgerald said it was the only way to catch the suspects in the act. He bristled when one reporter asked why authorities didn’t arrest the suspects in their homes.

“You’re assuming we know where everyone lives, and that’s a big assumption when you’re dealing with people who make fraudulent identification,” Fitzgerald said.

While many use the false ID’s to secure employment there is nothing to say the same counterfeit documents will l not be used by terrorists intending to do harm. In fact it is entirely plausible and an oft ignored piece of the puzzle by those who tout amnesty as the only solution. At what point in this debate did Federal Authorities carrying out their solemn and vital duties become intimidation? Those in the country legally can protest at will and feel free from fear as they are welcome to express their 1st Amendment right of free speech. Only those illegally in the country can possibly be intimidated by such a maneuver and therein lies the problem.

Proponents of amnesty suggest that many of those illegally in our country are just hard working people who want to support their families and pose no threat to the country. While I have to agree with the former part of that sentiment, I must take umbrage with the latter. This case is such an instance. While the individual may personally pose no harm, their illegal presence, (especially in the numbers currently residing in any sizable urban area) creates an atmosphere and market that promotes crime and in the long run, harm to our country. What was 4 million illegals in 1984 under the Reagan amnesty is now estimated at 12 million, all needing fake green cards, drivers licenses and stolen social security numbers. These are provided by criminals who may well do harm and many already have. To think these are just 12 million innocents in the shadows with no peripheral consequence is not only naive, it is suicide. The failure of the 1984 amnesty illustrates the absolute need for enforcement first. The complete disregard for the law in the 23 years since that amnesty and rejection of our generosity as a country buy making it a demand is another reason to withhold a “path to citizenship” for all who do not go back to their country of origin and get in line to apply in the same manner as all who have respected and followed the law.

While it may be impossible and impractical to round up all of those here illegally we certainly do not have to legitimize their unlawful actions by ignoring them either. A fine and a quick turnaround is still amnesty as it affords these individuals a jump ahead over those who chose to recognize the authority of a sovereign nation. A better solution is to let them return to their home countries on their own and apply like everyone else or to let them risk staying here illegally with the possibility of getting caught.

True immigration reform can be achieved and may well be desirable but it cannot include any form of amnesty and absolutely must start with border enforcement. The demands and outrage of those who took instead of asked and who would encourage others to do so should never even be considered as a part of the debate.

Posted by Biloxi in Immigration, Social Issues at 3:55 PM EDT

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Sen John McCain - (R- Caine Mutiny) has announced he will run for the Republican nomination for President of the United States

In a surprise move, the decision was announced in New Hampshire today.

Seriously, when are we going to end the charade of “official announcements” that come months after the people start fund-raising and making stump speeches, TV appearances, and general campaign like activity?

Posted by Biloxi in Politics at 2:24 PM EDT

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In another disturbing development we find that Three more people were killed for the egregious crime of not being Muslim. Until we recognize the evil inherent in the radicalized version of this religion and confront it we can expect more of the same. Further it is being adopted and accepted as justified by governments as well.

A story from Iran has their Supreme Court overturning the convictions of 6 militia members who killed people they considered morally corrupt. The convictions were upheld by three lower courts.

According to the Supreme Court’s earlier decision, the killers, who are members of the Basiji Force, volunteer vigilantes favored by the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, considered their victims morally corrupt and, according to Islamic teachings and Iran’s Islamic penal code, their blood could therefore be shed.

The last victims, for example, were a young couple engaged to be married who the killers claimed were walking together in public.

These are the people with whom Nancy Pelosi and others think we should open a dialogue? You cannot discuss a reasonable solution with people who have no respect for human life, period. It is for these reasons we need to remain in the middle east until such a time as radical Islam is defeated. A society that condones the killing of others for religious reasons will not negotiate honestly.

If the American left and the moderates of both parties cannot recognize this then we can expect more carnage visited upon our country and our allies. Sooner rather than later.

Posted by Biloxi in Radical Islam at 12:29 PM EDT

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Johnny Hart, B.C. Cartoonist and co-creator of the Wizard of ID died last week at the age of 76. Mr. Hart started his B.C. strip in 1958 and it was widely distributed. Many accounts I have read had his readership at 100 million or more at the height of the strip’s popularity. Though I rarely read the comics anymore, the B.C. strip was a can’t miss in my youth. I will never forget the ‘Clams Got Legs” strips or the social commentary I learned at an early age as I followed BC, Wiley, Cute Chick and Fat Broad (hearkening back to a less PC age) as well as the animals whose banter often had a social commentary included.

The reason my comic page readership has dwindled is because they are less than funny (Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace) and 90% of them in both of the Chicago dailies are either tired and irrelevant (Dilbert) or overtly political, paranoid and mostly left leaning (Doonesbury, Candorville and a host of others). When one with a conservative bent appeared in “Prickly City” the letters to the editor page lit up with criticism on how it should be removed. Subsequently it was.

Hart reminded us that varying points of view can be funny and that a different outlook need not be cause for scorn and ridicule. Of note in many of the obituaries written about Mr. Hart was how the strip became controversial in the 1990’s when Johnny started including themes that portrayed his fundamental faith in Christianity. Considered the most controversial of them all was an Easter 2001 strip pictured below:

The strip caused some papers to discontinue his column and others to selectively remove it or put it on the religion page. Something I find laughable considering Doonesbury is rarely placed on the editorial page, at least in most of the newspapers in major cities . People denounced the overt Christian theme as some groups claimed it advocates replacement theology. At the times Mr. Hart did address Christian themes he often drew criticism from others who called his work insensitive or offensive. Amazingly, it is now insensitive to profess your faith from whatever platform you may have. In Johnny Hart’s case his platform was his comic strip and I applaud his use of it to profess his faith. In a world where anything goes, where people can call the President despicable names, impugn our country and excuse the abuses and barbarism of radical Islam; Mr. Hart stood up and testified, unashamedly and in the manner of a good Christian and faithful believer. May he enjoy peace with the Heavenly Father. May others follow his example and be encouraged to share their faith openly. In a world where the secular progressives have attempted to banish the mention of faith in the public sector, Johnny Hart was a shining beacon.

Posted by Biloxi in Biloxi Says, Social Issues at 9:01 AM EDT

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Alas it is not the embryonic stem cells that we were told would allow Christopher Reeve to walk again or would relieve Michael J. Fox of his horrendous Parkinson’s symptoms. In fact it was the tired old adult stem cells used in this study. In a story published yesterday we learn of success in treating 14 of 15 people with Type 1 diabetes by using experimental stem cell therapy, eliminating the need for insulin shots for months and even years in some patients tested. The research is still incomplete and scientists involved are not sure of the permanence of the treatment as one patient had the symptoms return a year into remission after contacting a respiratory viral infection.

The study, conducted in Brazil, offers promise for the multitudes of those with Type 1 diabetes. With a study so promising you would think we would have seen more high profile coverage in the national press. Stem cell research has been a hot topic in political circles and has had a prominent profile in recent elections. Might it be that this research does not destroy embryos and snuff out life, hence rendering it unimportant to the much of the mainstream media? Or is it possibly that the advocates for the embryonic type of research just have a yearning for that which they cannot have, the forbidden fruit so to speak. This very promising therapy uses adult stem cells, much in the manner used for bone marrow transplants in treating leukemia patients. The patient’s immune system is wiped out after healthy beta cells are harvested from the body and then the cells are reintroduced into the patient creating a new, working, immune system to replace their faulty one.

Studies like this one in Brazil show the promise of technology and science but also show that adult stem cells can be used with success and such cells do not destroy life. In addition to the patient’s own adult cells, beta cells from cadavers were used in this study and scientists are trying to develop additional beta cells from embryos. Notice that the successes come from the two types of cells that do not involve the destruction of the embryo.

With all of the stem cell research successes coming from adult and cord blood cells, why do we continually see the push from our politicians for embryonic research? Is there some kind of magic that comes with the destruction of life that makes the research more desirable? Scores of positive research and in some cases cures, yet still we chase the death option. Much of the American left and a portion of the American right on this issue chase death more than any gun enthusiast ever could. Coupled with the amount of lives snuffed out by abortion, the destruction of embryos could kill far more innocent human life than firearms ever could, yet the push goes on. Many come by this stance because of selfish though hopeful reasons, such as the illness or incapacitation of a loved one while others do so because of their belief in man over God. Man can do great things as we were created by the Father with superior intelligence and a free will but we should never forget that we are given this gift, we did not create ourselves.

It all starts with the “surplus embryos” that advocates suggest we use for research (funded by the Federal Government) but the next logical step for that camp would be cloning, or the creation of embryos strictly for the purposes of destroying them for their parts and at that point we have lost our soul. Human life is a divine gift and we should never take it lightly, whether it is abortion, embryonic stem cell research or euthanasia as the issue, life is too precious to end it before God sees fit. God promised eternal life through his Son if we accept it but he didn’t offer infallibility or endless life on earth. If the path to prolonging the lives of others is through the destruction of some, it may well be that it was not intended that way. We should choose to sustain life, not destroy it. The path we are embarking on could very well lead to judging who is worthy to live and who is to be destroyed. That is not the province of man and should only be determined by the Creator.

Posted by Biloxi in Social Issues at 10:01 PM EDT

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A Blessed and Happy Easter to All. Be mindful of the sacrifice Jesus made so that we may have salvation.

Posted by Biloxi in Biloxi Says at 11:46 PM EDT

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