Right-wing Republicans need to look in the mirror

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By Ray Hanania In order to understand what happened in Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 8, you have to understand the surprise election events in DuPage County. For years, DuPage County was the Republican antithesis of the Democratic Cook County. But as Cook County shifted its concerns from protecting law-abiding citizens to protecting the “rights” of…

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Big money finds few obstacles

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By Rich Miller State Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) made the classic blunder of not focusing on one election at a time. But, his flub does give us an excuse to look at a few fundraising issues. It’s been no secret that Ozinga wanted to be the next House Republican Leader. But he hasn’t really been…

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Politics on the menu at these eateries

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By Ray Hanania There are just some places where political-philes love to hang out and talk politics and life. The top place to go to enjoy a great meal and rub shoulders with politicians and political journalists is Manny’s Restaurant & Deli on Jefferson Street and Roosevelt Road in Chicago. Manny’s has the absolute best corned-beef sandwiches,…

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Community foundations crucial in Illinois

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By John T. Shaw Editor’s Note: This op-ed was distributed by Capitol News Illinois on behalf of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. Most Americans have a strong connection to our country, but our most tangible, visceral and enduring attachments are to the communities in…

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Demonizing in politics needs to stop

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By Rich Miller I’m writing this a few days before election day; but from where I sit, if the so-called Workers’ Rights Amendment fails to pass muster with voters, a campaign fueled by the Illinois Policy Institute could take a big share of the credit. The proposed constitutional amendment is backed to the hilt by…

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Good and bad choices on the ballot

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By Ray Hanania Which issue is more important on Tuesday, Nov. 8: abortion or safety? That’s what it comes down to in the election if you listen to the Democrats and the Republicans. This is Illinois, and in this election you can’t do much about abortion. It won’t change no matter how much fear mongering Gov. JB Pritzker engages…

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Getting closer to the ‘right track’

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By Rich Miller When Emerson College unveiled its latest Illinois poll last week, its press release included three “Key Takeaways.” At the very top of its list was this: “Fifty-two percent (52%) majority of voters think things in Illinois are on the wrong track, while 48% think things are headed in the right direction.” The…

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Dems have big bucks advantage over GOP

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By Rich Miller House Speaker Chris Welch reported raising a whopping $14 million in the third quarter, with almost half of that, $6 million, coming from Gov. JB Pritzker. That gives Welch a huge cash advantage for the home stretch over his Republican counterpart. Welch’s personal campaign committee reported raising $7 million between July 1…

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Pols have always lied to seniors

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By Ray Hanania Seniors are the most important vote in Illinois and in the United States, and yet they are taken for granted, marginalized and misled by everyone. Seniors have been co-opted nationally and in Springfield by lobbyist lowlifes who determine policy by funding campaigns of elected officials. When an elected official leaves office, most…

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Voters should be informed – not misled  

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By Alee Quick Editor’s Note: This op-ed was distributed by Capitol News Illinois on behalf of the News Literacy Project. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The world of Illinois politics is notoriously wild at times, and this year’s midterm election season is holding true to form. Disagreements on policy issues…

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