First GOP Governor's debate

Four of the five Republican candidates for Governor of the state of Illinois met Wednesday night to allow the voters a chance to hear their vision of Illinois' future.

Here is your chance to offer your thoughts on who came out on top. Remember, this is not who you are supporting in the election, but rather who you thought did the best job in the debate.

If you missed it, CBS News has a webcast and trascript availabe on their website.

Has Bin Laden been beat'en?

The pan-Arab TV station al-Jazeera has broadcast an audio tape of Osama Bin Laden offering the American people a truce in Iraq and Afghanistan. Within the speech, Bin Laden threatens the United States with further attacks, claiming that they are simply still in the planning stages. While he out right states that he intends to attack US soil once more, he thinks that it might be a good time to stop fighting on Arab soil.

That sounds fair, huh?

In reality, the truce is a sign that President Bush's vigilance in bringing the war to the terrorists has continued work. With Bin Laden on the run, he is coming to the American people with a proposal that basically states," stop attacking us so that we may catch our breaths and start attacking you!" This is not a sign of man that believes he is winning the war, rather the ramblings of a man on the brink of ruin.

Sources who heard the recording believe that Bin Laden is in poor health. In the speech he acknowledged his own mortality, saying that the jihad would continue even after he meets Allah.

The US Marines have offere to arrange the meeting as soon as they can.

The Blame Game

Rod delivered his State of the State speech today, avoiding the one issue that he pledged to champion during his 2002 campaign for governor, "ending business as usual."

Rather, his focus appeared to be blaming President Bush and Washington for the problems facing Illinois. The Governor would like us to believe that its Washington's fault that he put the state of Illinois into tremendous deficit with his bond proposals.

Its Washington's fault that the governor has scared businesses from Illinois by creating fees that have overtaxed our local industries.

Its Washington's fault that the Blagojevich administration has under-funded and neglected the state's pension system to a tune of $39 billion.

Its Washington's fault that there are probes involving the tollway, DCFS, IDOT, CMS, the pension scam, and allegations of the exchange of campaign cash for state contracts and jobs.

Following the speech, Blago thanked Senator John Kerry and former Vice President Al Gore for writing the speech.

Blago and Daley trample 2nd Amendment rights with proposed gun ban

In a purely political move, Governor Rod Blagojevich will begin his latest assault on gun owners' rights tomorrow as his annual State of the State Address before a joint session of the IL General Assembly.

With crime on the rise in Illinois (and his poll numbers plummeting), the Governor is expected to propose a ban on the so-called "assault weapons" collected by law abiding citizens.

At his side in this endeavor will be Mayor Richard Daley. Daley looks to support this legislation in order to deflect recent criticism following the indictment of several key members of his administration. Daley is a nationally known opponent of the 2nd amendment, laying down some of the most restrictive gun laws in the United States within the City of Chicago. But alas, studies have shown repeatedly that Daley's tireless efforts to steal guns from law abiding citizens have only made Chicago less safe.

Congressional studies dealing with the federal version of Blago's proposed ban have yielded results contradictory to what the Mayor and Governor will tell you. Of all violent crimes in America, the firearms banned under their proposal only account for 1 to 2%. Murders with knives, clubs and hands out number those with these firearms 20 to 1.

Thank you for keeping our streets safe Mr. Governor. Maybe next year you can ban "Bat Day" at US Cellular Field, and make our streets real safe.

His voice is as shaky as his administration...

Turn up your speakers when you check out this video of the Governor singing his heart out.

Video link

Priceless. Don't quit your day job.

The Republican Party says goodbye to a dear friend

The Republican Party mourns the loss of one of our favorite members following the passing of Elgin legend Richard Gromer from congestive heart failure Wednesday.

To anyone who spent their childhood in the greater Elgin-Area, we will always remember Mr. Gromer as the friendly neighborhood grocer. When parnets shopped at the Gromer's Supermarket on McLean and Wing Blvd, their children begged to join them in the hopes that they may be rewarded with some of Mr. Gromer's legendary ice cream. Parents didn't mind paying for the treat (afterall, at only a quarter it was the coolest deal in town).

The Republican Party remembers Mr. Gromer for his strong support of the Party. He was always willing to buy a table at a local fundraiser or support a good candidate. He was a loving family man, and a beloved member of the community.

We'll miss you old friend.

Earlier Campaign Time Table

As mentioned in the last edition of the TRUNK, Republican Governor Candidate Ron Gidwitz went on the air Monday, in what he vowed would be the beginning of media buy that would carry him through the Primary Election. This is the second media buy that the Gidwitz camp has purchased, focusing on prime-time spots. The first started earlier last year. Gidwitz is currently filming a second commercial featuring he and his running-mate state Senator Steve Rauschenberger that will go on the air soon.

Word is that Brady's camp has several commercials in the can ready to go. The question remains whether or not they will have enough funds to go live, or if the commercials will be posted on his website in an effort to garner some earned media through the network news. From what we've heard, Brady used a Californian ad agency that has done a terrific job on the commercials. If they go on his website, we'll post some links here. His radio commercials have been playing quite often in the downstate media markets, where his 4x8 signs are lining the interstates. (Is this a sign of his overall campaign strategy?)

The Topinka and Oberweis camps have been relatively quite so far in terms of media buys.
Although neither has filed their year end D2s, we can safely assume that both camps have some green in their reserves. Oberweis made a name for himself during the '04 elections with his commercials, and Judy's last Treasurer piece was quite well done.

You can probably expect both to go live in the next couple of weeks.

Alito hearings proof Democrats out of touch with America

When an animal is trapped in a corner, it will fight tooth and nail to try and escape. It will risk its life against immeasurable odds. In Washington, the Democrats have found themselves trapped hopelessly in a corner.

With the American public increasingly disenchantment with their policies and leadership (as evident in the last two national elections), the Democrats find themselves once again in the minority. Their actions during the Alito confirmation hearings have shown that they no longer care about public opinion, rather their sole objective is to be a deterrent to the Republican Majority.

Despite the overwhelming national support of Alito, Senators Kennedy, Durbin and Feinstein have continued to assault this jurist's noble character, and reduce the confirmation hearings to a sideshow attraction. The DNC is so consumed with hatred of the Republican majority that they have gone so far as threaten a filibuster to prevent Altio from taking O'Connor's seat on the highest court in the land.

Will the Democrats ever learn that America is sickened by these tactics? In the mean time, the Republican Party looks to continue to gain ground nationally. Keep up the good work Dean old buddy. You are the Republican's MVP!

Why the Silent Majority?

The "Silent Majority" was a term coined by the U.S. President Richard M. Nixon in his 1969 speech to the world. It refers to a large number of people in the nation who do not express their opinions publicly. When President Nixon used it for the first time, it referred to those Americans who did not join in the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War, those who did not engage in riots or attack police officers, those who did not join in the counterculture, and those who did not enthusiastically participate in public discourse or the media. Nixon realized that the majority of America was being overshadowed by the more vocal minority.

Today, we have a similar situation to that which President Nixon faced throughout his tenure in office. The Liberal Media has continued to give press to the small vocal opponents of democracy, while the opinions of the Silent Majority are ignored. While America continues to support President Bush, the media focuses on Cindy Sheehan and her small contingent.

The Silent Majority serves as a means for like minded Conservatives to discuss those issues that won't make it to the news.