I helped give away free Christmas trees last night. There’s some happy people in DG because of this.

Cool for many reasons, among them: there are still Knights of the Templar walking among us (!), and there has to be more people this year who look at $50+ for a tree and wonder how to prioritize that into a shrunken Christmas budget.

The Village is trying out for the part of Scrooge again this year. They never stopped it when the trees were at the Mason Lodge a couple doors east, but this year the DGTRO agreed to help, and it moved to the wall next to the Curtiss Street HQ. Much better location.

So just coincidence this year here comes Code Enforcement to scuff their shoes around the periphery, trying to come up with a reason to stop this display of holiday good will.

The best they could come up with is move them back a foot or two, they can’t encroach on public property, the empty grass lawn on the corner.

The trees are there tonight and Friday night. If you know someone who might be in need, tell, them, stop by, bring them by. Merry Christmas one and all!

..but it’s starting to look like you can’t run doodly past Waking America Up. Defiantly and unapologetic-ally conservative, this recent post outs one Lucy Lloyd, shill and cut-out for Megan Schroeder and her Advocates pals.

After reading Lloyd’s calumn I have to wonder why Wurster and Krajewski even bothered answering the phone when she called.

Cross check the Voter History for Mr. Peters III- he’s never pulled a primary ballot here, and voted once in 2010. The DGTRO has open precincts that need PC’s. If any of them bothered ever coming to a meeting they’d have found that out.

Waking America Up left out that Ms. Lloyd was also Campaign Manager for Megan Schroeder’s infamous Advocates 2007 election, and has been a reliable shill for Advocates causes and candidates ever since.

They also left out that Julia Kennedy-Beckman is the Democratic Party State Central Committee Representative for the 13th District. She’s a fixture at every Advocates function, in addition to being a founding member. They don’t have her name listed anymore. Rewriting history maybe.

PS- Because some jackass will bring this up later like it’s a deep dark secret, I vetted Deb’s packet, I even went through it and had Deb delete invalid signatures. I filed her packet that Monday morning at 8:00am, and met some folks, like Ms. Boyle, who were looking to bring change, to stop how our state is run into the dirt. No Sandack people were anywhere to be seen. Who filed for him?

I pulled Ron’s packet and vetted it. It was a mess, but as near as I could tell he actually had 500 valid signatures. Ron had a research professional from a top downtown law firm pull Boyle’s. Ron’s been planning this run since this summer, lining up big wheel support. Boyle waited to see if Patti Bellock would run in 81.

Maybe voters should look at both packets to help decide who takes this more seriously.

UPDATE- I was emailed that Ms. Lloyd no longer lives in Downers Grove, nor in House District 81, nor in Illinois.

Three different times, the Illinois legislature has rejected a proposal put forward by out-of-state energy company Tenaska to build the Taylorville Energy Center. This “clean coal” plant would leave Illinois families, businesses and government agencies paying up to SEVEN TIMES today’s market price for electricity. When the legislature meets November 29, Tenaska will try once again to get Illinois consumers to foot the bill for their coal plant, which Illinois doesn’t need.

Please take a moment now to contact your legislator and let them know you oppose the Taylorville Energy Center. Here are the facts:

• The Taylorville Energy Center would cost Illinois electricity consumers $286 million per year.

• Illinois businesses and industry would bear the risks and absorb most cost overruns, making it harder to create jobs.

• Tenaska wants Illinois consumers to pay even if the Taylorville Energy Center never produces more than a single megawatt of power.

• The plant would add only two-tenths of one percent to the overall amount of power generation capacity available to Illinois

Your voice matters in stopping this legislation. Thanks for letting your legislator know that you oppose the Taylorville Energy Center. Visit www.STOPCoalition.com to learn more.

Last night a County Board member, from District 3, asserted in front of the DGTRO folks in attendance that DuPage County had reduced it’s spending by $45 million dollars. This struck me as an odd statement, so I looked it up.

In 2005 the Total Appropriation for DuPage County was $608,910,218. In 2010 the Total Appropriation was $689,093,552. That’s a net increase $80,183,334, a 16.4% increase that out-stripped the chained CPI for the same six year period of 12.5% (BLS’s table HERE). You can access Consolidated Annual Financial Reports HERE to verify it for yourself. CAFR’s are useful things; uniform reports filed at the State that allow for apples to apples comparos of results. Budgets are intentions, CAFR’s are results. CAFR’s make it hard to hide promises and boasts that aren’t true.

Credit where credit is due: the efforts to hold the line on taxes at the County level have worked better than any other level of govt. They’ve plenty of good things they can accurately report on.

Accuracy. One of the continuing items that nags at supporters of either political party is a basic lack of accuracy by our elected officials. It feeds suspicion that either a) they are not in command of basic facts, b) they don’t understand the difference between things like cuts, savings, and spending reductions, or c) they’re liars. I doubt that County Board member is a liar.

It’s not just DGTRO members at a monthly meeting that deserve the unvarnished truth when we’re getting supposedly reliable information from our elected officials, all residents deserve it all the time. Accurate information is paramount. Continuing the norm of blowing smoke up our figurative skirts doesn’t accomplish that.

SB1652 supposedly guarantees Illinois power delivery moves into the 21st Century, just like California and most of the Northeast. Nevermind the states that have moved forward on Smart Grid type technologies now have the highest electricity rates. Never mind the obvious logic that if it would make power delivery more efficient and cost effective, power companies looking to lower cost and increase returns would find the financing to impliment it. Nevermind most states that have stood pat, like Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, have industrial rates 24-25% lower than Illinois, making them even more competetive for manufacturing and the jobs that follow. Never mind that ComEd, serving over 3.7 million customers at 10.9 cents/KwH, rakes in over $4.5 billion in annual revenue. By the way, size doesn’t matter: Naperville Electrical Department (NED) serves 56 thousand accounts, at 8.82 cents/KwH, almost 20% cheaper than ComEd.*

Is private risk for private profit a foreign concept in Illinois? Baseball teams get lavish deals on taxpayers tabs. The Chicago Park District gets a football stadium built with state tax dollars. Power companies have taxpayers pay ahead on rquired upgrades to their systems instead of taking on the risk and debt themselves. Our leaders socialize the costs out of our wallets, yet still privatize the profits back to the companies we pick up the tab for.

Why stop there, though? The Illinois GA this week also guarantees a profit every step of the way for these private companies. No risk, yet guaranteed private profit. Wouldn’t we all like that kind of investment? I bet the teachers would right about now. That such a skewed result of legislation gets the limelight, while no budget fixes, or pension fixes that actually address the problem remain completely unaddressed, doesn’t matter. What matters in Illinois? That both sides of the General Assembly aisle got to slop at the trough of lobby money. For less than a penny on the dollar, Ameren, Exelon, and ComEd have locked in billions of future profits, by simply buying the votes of most of the Illinois General Assembly.

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform collates and creates a sortable database of who buys what in Illinois. so far just in 2011 the three power companies have walked the halls of Springfield and handed out the goodies, the grease that keeps incumbent campaigns running, that keeps caucuses loyal, and that keeps business as usual churning away.

Results for 2011

Ameren gave $ 103,408.00
Ameren CILCO gave $ 1,000.00
AMEREN ILLINOIS PAC gave $ 2,500.00
Ameren CILCO gave $ 19,700.00
Ameren CILCO c/o Michael Sullivan gave $ 2,000.00
Ameren CIPS PAC gave $ 3,000.00
Ameren Government Relations Dept gave $ 1,000.00
Ameren IL PAC gave $ 8,250.00
Ameren IL. PAC gave $ 1,000.00
Ameren Illinois gave $ 94,651.00
Ameren Illinois PAC gave $ 151,399.00
Ameren Illinois Utilities gave $ 1,000.00
Ameren PAC gave $ 1,500.00
Ameren, IL gave $ 1,000.00
AmerenCilco gave $ 500.00
AmerenIllinois gave $ 3,500.00
AmerenIllinois PAC gave $ 1,000.00
Amerenn CILCO gave $ 2,500.00

Sub total all Ameren: $398,908

Results for 2011
ComEd gave $ 10,117.00
ComEd PAC gave $ 77,550.00
ComEd PAC Attn. Cheryl L. Hyman gave $ 8,000.00
ComEd PAC. gave $ 250.00
ComEdPAC gave $ 47,200.00

Sub total all ComEd: $143,117 

Results for 2011
Commonwealth Edison Co- Affiliate of Exelon Corp, PAC gave $ 500.00
Exelon gave $ 9,250.00
Exelon Gen Pac gave $ 500.00
Exelon Generation gave $ 1,000.00
Exelon Generation Co gave $ 500.00
Exelon Generation Company gave $ 9,750.00
Exelon Generation Company LLC gave $ 5,000.00
Exelon Generation Company PAC gave $ 8,500.00
Exelon Generation Company, LLC gave $ 4,750.00
Exelon Generation Copmpany gave $ 250.00
Exelon Generation PAC gave $ 4,000.00
Exelon Generaton Company PAC gave $ 1,000.00
Exelon PAC gave $ 8,750.00
Exelon-Commonwealth Edison Company gave $ 2,000.00
Exelonpac gave $ 1,000.00

Sub total all Exelon: $56,750

Total all contributions for 2011 only: $598,775

House votes are here, Senate votes are here.

Michelle Obama info@barackobama.com

info@barackobama.com

Mark Thoman <markthoman@gmail.com>

Wed, Sep 28, 2011 at 1:31 PM

These dinners

bounce.bluestatedigital.com

barackobama.com

Mark –

Not everyone knows how to prepare for a dinner like this. As someone who’s eaten countless meals with my husband, I want to tell you the one thing to do if you’re selected to join him…

Just relax. Barack wants this dinner to be fun, and he really loves getting to know supporters like you.

I hope you’ll take him up on it before Friday’s deadline.

Will you donate $3 or more today and be entered to have dinner with Barack?

These dinners mean a lot to Barack. They’re a chance for him to talk with a few of the people who are driving the campaign — and a chance for him to say thank you.

So come prepared to tell your story, and say whatever’s on your mind.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be there. Donate $3 today, before the September 30th deadline:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks,

Michelle

from Mark Thoman markthoman@gmail.com reply-to markthoman@gmail.com to info@barackobama.com date Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 10:59 AM subject Re: These dinners mailed-by gmail.com Images from this sender are always displayed. Don’t display from now on.

10:59 AM (3 hours ago)

www.dgreport.com has over 150 posts first-hand witnessing the arrogance and abuse of power of the CHSD 99 Board of Education and the majority members of that board over the years. It all happened specifically after long time Board member and President Bruce Beckman stepped down after 20 years of service, and before current Board President Bill White was elected to the middle chair.

During that in-between time the former Superintendent got stiff final year pay raises (from $187.2K in 2005 to $256.5K+ in 2008) to goose his pension; the local teachers union made campaign contributions to the majority board members election fund; FOIA’s were routinely denied; no one knows how many times the OMA was violated; reporters verbally harassed when they wrote articles the board majority disliked; a board member silenced for trying to talk about cheaper insurance options; residents denied the chance to speak at meetings; few accurate recordings or minutes kept of public meetings; Township Democratic Party newsletters stacked in the School Districts Administration building during School Board meetings, and more. The Board President during all of this was/is Julia Kennedy-Beckman, the Democratic State Central Committee 13th District Representative.

All finally brought to an end thanks to a conservative Republican named Deb Boyle, who then worked hard to help elect more responsible public servants to replace pious rulers.

For one post at DGreport I researched the IASB database of both Nepotism Policy and Ethics Policy for school boards.

The BOE 99 Nepotism Policy is unique in Illinois, maybe illegal, and specifically written and rewritten by Policy Chair and former majority member Megan Schroeder, apparently to ensure there would be a policy to prevent Deb Boyle from performing her duties, should she be elected. Stack the deck, tilt the field, then start pointing the fingers.

Now it seems the board may consider returning to the original Nepotism and Conflict of Interest Policy as per the policy the vast majority of IASB members have.

Those deposed are angry, and lashed out at the meeting where Ms. Beckman was voted out as President. Here’s a cell-phone video of that. I taped one other meeting over two years ago, which was the classic of then board member Megan Schroeder exploding in rage at a resident questioning her alleged abuse of position to favor her children, but the camera owner agreed not to air it. In retrospect too bad.

After a recent meeting, one of the still remaining old board majority Terry Pavesich barked at Ms. Boyle that she was a “worthless bitch”. That was done in front of board members, administrators, and reporters. Just a couple examples of how the former majority treated everyone they consider the enemy.

Now the BGA has published a “whistleblower” story about how the board might roll the nepotism policy back to how it had been for over 25 years.  Illinois Review re-posted the story on their website. This entire “whistleblower” episode is yet another attack. The author and the story seem to think a tougher policy is better. Yep, better for slanting the playing field to punish one person who had the audacity to run for office and win. I called the BGA and spoke with Mr. Schroedter and he was polite and I’ve no issue with him or that organization, but it seemed he wrote his story, based on one “whistleblower” and with Ms. Boyle yet again declining to roll in the mud. Mr. Schroedter has probably moved on trying to keep pace with the vast amount of political misbehavior in Illinois, leaving behind another piece that helps once again tilt the field, stack the deck, and allow the former majority to wag their tongues, cluck their disapproval, point their fingers. I doubt that was Mr. Schroedter’s intent, but that is the result, as the tongues wagged and the fingers pointed by a few. Most people didn’t notice, but I did. I’ve seen this for years: build a whole cloth of deceit one thread at a time.

My responses pointing this out (after all, I helped document the nonsense and the abuses) on their websites have not been posted. I can’t say they ever will; no one likes to walk into the middle of a six plus year sustained personal attack and get played. I respect and enjoy reading the BGA site and Illinois review, but they’ve both been played by a local group bitter at losing control of the school board. How hard would it have been to google and read the background?

So the current BOE 99 might change the slanted, custom Boyle Policy back to how most all SB’s in Illinois have theirs written- along IASB guidelines. The current BOE President Bill White said they’ll have a lawyer come in and talk to them about it, so they’re all on the same page.

Boyle herself is now the Vice President of the Board of Education. Ms. Boyle has made no attacks, no insinuations or veiled accusations, nor used angry profanity towards anyone. She’s stayed out of the mud. Not so former board majority members.

Deb Boyle is now a candidate for House 81, oddly an empty seat district; coincidence?

I called Deb Boyle, and she promptly returned my call. I’m a Republican Precinct Committeeman, and she attends meetings and events when her schedule allows, so I’ve spoken with her before. She’s moved on from this latest episode, which shows more than a little class. Maybe it’s from being used to this kind of backbiting; impressive nonetheless. I’ll do what I can to help her get elected to that new house seat, as she has proven to be a level-headed public servant.

And as always, any comments or emails will be treated as potentially publishable.

POSTSCRIPT- Elaine Johnson has posted on FaceBook that she’s considering restarting DGreport. Many honest folks from all parts of the political spectrum hope so: others probably not so much.

Monday set (unless otherwise noted, REALLY tight and true):

1) Magical Mystery Tour

2) Juniors Farm (I’m shaky on the Wings titles)

3) All My Lovin (his band vocals were spot on)

4) Jet

5) Got to get You Into My Life

6) (some new song that was okay)

7) The Night Before

8 ) (none of us came up with it and Shazam didn’t register, maybe it was an obscure Beatles that was so-so, but melded into Foxy Lady which was pretty cool.)

9) Paperback Writer (SHREDDED it! WOW)

10) The Long and Winding Road

11) 1984 (Wings who cares)

12) Someones’ Knocking at the Door (again, Wings who cares, was starting to wonder where the concert was heading)

13) Maybe I’m Amazed (had the band help him with the high stuff)

14) I’m Looking Through You (off Rubber Soul yeah!)

15) And I Love Her (again, great vocal mix)

16) Blackbird (PM and guitar very nice, almost like ‘Yeah it’s a stadium concert, but come over here I’ll play this just for you’)

17) (New song about John Lennon. So-so, but sweet that he did tributes to his fallen friends)

18) (Everybody Gonna) Dance Tonight

19) (no one had a clue what this song was)

20) Eleanor Rigby (NAILED IT)

21) Something (started just him on the Uke as a tribute to George)

22) Band on the Run (One of two Wings songs I know)

23) Life Goes On (ob- la-de ob-la-da sing along)

24) Back in the USSR (rocked it HARD)

By this time we were wondering if he would just play until he died on stage. It was brutally hot all day, didn’t cool off that much, but it looked like they had special AC units on both sides of the stage and behind keeping the stage area cooler? Also the second half of the concert PM sat at the keyboards more often, probably a result of good planning!

25) I Got a Feeling

26) Day in the Life/Give Peace a Chance (the night’s second medley)

27) Let It Be (best I’ve heard it, a real heart tugger)

28) Live and let Die (stage edge flame throwers, heavy fireworks-the halftime show a real crowd pleaser)

29) Hey Jude (Had a little trouble with the vocals. Obviously worn out?)

Of course an Encore

30) Lady Madonna

31) Birthday Song

32) I Saw Here Standing There

Second Encore (didn’t really even leave the stage LOL)

33) Yesterday (I think 40,000+ people were all smiling and crying)

34) Helter Skelter (WOW! 34TH song into a concert and they just shredded this completely. Rocked as hard as any band I’ve heard.)

35) The End

THREE HOURS STRAIGHT no breaks no intermissions and 35 songs. Granted the guy isn’t jumping all over the stage but who cares! According to my nephew who attended both shows the play list was different- some songs the same, but some different.

I think at some point everyone there had their eyes closed just listening and letting their minds wander back to the first times they heard this one or that one. EVERYBODY left happy.