The dead must have voted again in Illinois Demo primary...

Illinois, coming through with more votes than is physically possible just as everyone predicted pic.twitter.com/7qfM1Dr3cN

— Daniel Kay Hertz (@DanielKayHertz) March 16, 2016

Make fun of the Peoria Mayor with a parody twitter account...That's a swat raid...

Parody Twitter account @peoriamayor pissed off mayor of Peoria, who sent SWAT; college kid now facing drug charges. http://t.co/j9XQSdxZ9z
— Nameless Cynic (@NamelessCynic) September 20, 2014

This is what it has come to in America. Sadly, an activist judge ruled this swat raid was legal. 

The police hadn’t even come for him. When four fully-armed officers of a Swat team burst into Jacob Elliott’s house in Peoria, Illinois in April they were looking for the source of a parody Twitter feed that had upset the town’s mayor by poking fun at him.
It transpired that one of Elliott’s housemates, Jon Daniel, had created the fake Twitter account, @peoriamayor, and so incensed the real-life official, Jim Ardis, with his make-believe account of drug binges and sex orgies that the police were dispatched. Elliott was just a bystander in the affair, but that didn’t stop the Swat team searching his bedroom, looking under his pillow and in a closet where they discovered a bag of marijuana and dope-smoking paraphernalia.
Elliott now faces charges of felony marijuana possession.[snip]
A Peoria judge this week ruled that the police were entitled to raid the house on North University Street on 15 April under the town’s “false personation” law which makes it illegal to pass yourself off as a public official.

Bizarre: Feds stage massive armored raid on small town in Illinois...

Someone must have angered the Messiah....

Peoria Illinois police raid house for parody twitter account

Dissent will not be tolerated by the ruling class.

Via ArsTechnica:

 Illinois police seized computers and mobile phones while raiding a house whose owner was suspected of parodying the town mayor on Twitter.

In all, five people following the Tuesday evening raid were taken to the Peoria Police Department station for questioning, local media report.

“They just asked me about the Twitter account, if I knew anything about it,” Michelle Pratt, 27, told theJournal Star.

She said she was in the shower when officers arrived.

“They brought me in like I was a criminal,” she added. “They said they had a search warrant and took all the electronic devices that had Internet access. They said there had been an Internet crime that occurred at this residence.”[...]

“A parody means it’s fake. It was even listed as fake,” Pratt said. “It was a joke Twitter account, and they searched the whole house.” Keep on reading…

Chicago murder rate drops to 1958 level after Illinois allows conceal and carry...

Via IJR:

In July of 2013, Illinois became the last state in the union to enact a concealed carry law. In January of this year, the state began accepting applications for permits. This week, Chicago police announced that the city’s first quarter murder rate was the lowest since 1958.
Via ABC-affiliate Eye Witness News in the Windy City:
The first three months of the year saw 6 fewer murders than the same time frame in 2013–a 9 percent drop–and 55 fewer murders than 2012, according to a statement from Chicago Police. There were 90 fewer shootings and 119 fewer shooting victims, drops of 26 and 29 percent respectively, according to police statistics.
Compared to the first quarter of 2012, there have been 222 fewer shootings and 292 fewer shooting victims. Overall crime is down 25 percent from last year, and police said more than 1,300 illegal guns were recovered in the last three months.

Obamanomics: 15.7 percent of Illinoisans are dependent on food stamps

Don't you love how they put an American flag on the EBT food stamp card to make getting food stamps look patriotic?

Change strikes Illinois...

Via CNS News:

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), over two million Illinoisans– or 15.7 percent of the state’s population- are currently enrolled in food stamps.

The USDA’s latest data shows 2,023,635 Illinoisans were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in February 2013. In February of 2012, 1,831,898 people took part in the program. That’s an increase of 10.5 percent in just one year.

Illinois was the only state to see a double-digit increase of the number of residents enrolled in the SNAP program from the same time period last year.

The United States Census Bureau’s latest data shows the population of Illinois sitting at 12,875,255 people. If you take the number of residents on food stamps (2,023,635) and divide it by the population of the state (12,875,255), it shows 15.7 percent of Illinoisans are dependent on food stamps.

Interesting: Illinois Republicans have a hot 2014 gubernatorial candidate...

Erika Harold is half African-American/Native American, has a degree from Harvard Law School, and was Miss America.

Via The Weekly Standard: 

In the short-term it’s difficult to see how the Republicans in Illinois can break the Democratic stranglehold.

But they may have a political star in the wings by the name of Erika Harold. Harold’s resume is almost too good to be believed: born and raised in downstate Champaign, she is half African-American/Native American, has a degree from Harvard Law School, and was Miss America. Lest anyone doubt her conservative bona fides, her platform as Miss America was teen abstinence. She’s been practicing law in Chicago and doing all the little things expected of someone who aspires to a political career.

That career almost began last year: in March 2012, shortly after winning his uncontested primary, Congressman Tim Johnson announced he would retire from Congress at the end of the term. The post-primary retirement is a common maneuver by Illinois congressmen hoping to put their political (or actual) scions in their seat without the messiness of a primary. Johnson’s former chief of staff announced shortly thereafter (his website was actually up before the announcement) that he would stand for the nomination, which post-primary is chosen by the chairs of the various Republican County Committees.

As Johnson’s district director for most of his decade in office he knew these people well—and they weren’t fans. Shortly after his announcement downstate Congressman John Shimkus’s district director, Rodney Davis, who also happens to be from the district, announced his candidacy, and the other downstate congressmen quickly coalesced behind him.

Then Harold announced that she would contest the seat. She made a few appearances and was beyond impressive, and people began to pay notice to her... Keep on reading...

Good News: Illinois swears in a new General Assembly and only three Chicago Democrats are facing criminal charges...

Only in the home state of Barack Obama...

 ( SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) -- As members of Illinois' newest General Assembly took the oath of office Wednesday, the state that's still struggling to rebuild its image after two consecutive governors went to prison set yet another precedent of sorts: three sitting lawmakers facing criminal charges.

Illinois is no stranger to dramatic headlines about the nexus of politics and crime in its highest offices - most recently former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's conviction for attempting to sell Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat. But experts and capitol veterans can't recall a comparable circumstance for state legislators since the early 1970s, when several were rounded up in a bribery trial involving cement trucks.

The allegations against the three officials vary widely: bribery, bank fraud and trying to bring a gun onto a plane. But experts say that while the charges differ, the accumulation and timing is damaging to Illinois as it struggles to address some of the most serious financial problems in its history.{...}

The three legislators, Rep. Derrick Smith, Rep. La Shawn Ford and Sen. Donne Trotter, are Chicago Democrats who were all sworn into office Wednesday in Springfield. But that's where the similarities end. 

Good News: Illinois State Law Making Audio Recording of Police Ruled Unconstitutional

Police are public servants and work in public areas. It is shameful that there are elected officials in Illinois that would pass a law banning recording in public areas. The corrupt Illinois democratic political machine is only trying to protect the muscle. BTW, I am on camera at my workplace almost all of every day. I don't have a problem with that.

Via The Chicago Tribune:

A Cook County judge today ruled the state’s controversial eavesdropping law unconstitutional.

The law makes it a felony offense to make audio recordings of police officers without their consent even when they’re performing their public duties.

Judge Stanley Sacks, who is assigned to the Criminal Courts Building, found the eavesdropping law unconstitutional because it potentially criminalizes “wholly innocent conduct.”

Demos in Illinois move to place more restrictions on citizens' Second Amendment rights

Barack Obama seen nodding in approval...

SPRINGFIELD — Two controversial gun control proposals advanced to the full House Wednesday.

On a partisan vote, the Democratic-controlled House Executive Committee approved a measure requiring handgun owners to register their weapons with the state.

The panel also signed off on legislation that would create a special 2 percent tax on ammunition, which would finance trauma facilities that treat gunshot victims.

Both measures headed to the floor after failing to win support from Republican committee members. They said it remains unproven that such laws will reduce crime. And, they added, downstate gun owners would be unfairly burdened with the changes.

The gun registry was proposed by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, He originally called for a $65 registration fee, but that amount was pared to $20, with the proceeds going to various crime-fighting efforts.

“This is a tool that police can use,” said state Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, who sponsored the registry legislation. Keep on reading...

It is now legal to skin roadkill in Illinois

In other news, it used to be illegal to skin roadkill in Illinois.

CASEYVILLE, Ill.(AP) – In six years of trapping, one thing has become apparent to Cody Champ: His pursuit of animal pelts isn't cheap, costing him $100 a week just for gas. So, it's little wonder the Illinois man welcomed a recent state law that allows him to get a few freebies, even if he needs a shovel and good gloves.

Among the hundreds of Illinois laws that took effect last year, the so-called "roadkill bill" got little attention despite being perhaps the quirkiest of all — allowing anyone with an Illinois furbearer license to salvage pelts or even food from the unfortunate fauna that prove no match for steel-belted radials.

ID now needed to buy drain cleaner in Illinois, but you can still vote without one.

How bizarre is it that you have to show an ID to buy drain cleaner, cigarettes and cold medicine, but you can elect a President with your signature?

One of Illinois' new laws requires consumers to reach for their identification as well as their cash when they have a clogged drain.

The law that took effect Sunday requires a valid identification to buy products containing chemicals listed within the Federal Caustic Poison Act in concentrations that require the warning "causes severe burns" on the packaging. Targeted substances include hydrochloric and sulfuric acids.

Purchasers also must sign a log with their name and address.

"We're looking at Drano, Liquid-Plumr -- those are the big ones," Rep. Rich Morthland, R-Cordova, said.

File this under nanny-state on steroids.

Liberal Fail: Man Kills Woman After Determining Illinois Has No Death Penalty

 

Do the liberals who abolished Illinois' death penalty have this woman's blood on their hands?

“He ran up to her, he began shooting, he reloaded and shot her some more,” Berlin said. “She fell on the ground and he kept shooting. He shot her numerous times.”

Smirnov then fled the scene, calling Chicago police to tell them he had killed a woman in Oak Brook, Berlin said. Chicago police contacted Oak Brook authorities, and Smirnov turned himself in to a Romeoville police officer.

Eleven shell casings were recovered at the scene, Berlin said, and investigators found the gun in Smirnov’s car

Berlin said Smirnov had done research on the Internet to determine if Illinois had the death penalty, deciding to go through with Vesel’s murder when he discovered it does not.

One of President Obama's Favorite Companies is Ready to Bolt Illinois

President Obama 02/12/09:

"In many ways, you can measure America's bottom line by looking at Caterpillar's bottom line," Obama said.

Caterpillar's bottom line is saying high Illinois taxes are killing them and they are considering moving to another state.

SPRINGFIELD — The chairman and CEO of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. is raising the specter of moving the heavy equipment maker out of Illinois.

In a letter sent March 21 to Gov. Pat Quinn, Caterpillar chief executive officer Doug Oberhelman said officials in at least four other states have approached the company about relocating since Illinois raised its income tax in January.

“I want to stay here. But as the leader of this business, I have to do what’s right for Caterpillar when making decisions about where to invest,” Oberhelman wrote in the letter obtained Friday by the Lee Enterprises Springfield bureau. “The direction that this state is headed in is not favorable to business and I’d like to work with you to change that.”

Blue State Meltdown: Illinois Has Days to Plug $13 Billion Deficit

Liberal social programs and powerful public employee unions have taken a toll on the state of Illinois. They are facing a $13 billion deficit and few good options.
states financial crisis

(Bloomberg)- Illinois lawmakers will try this week to accomplish in a few days what they have been unable to do in the past two years -- resolve the state’s worst financial crisis.

The legislative session that began today as the House convened will take aim at a budget deficit of at least $13 billion, including a backlog of more than $6 billion in unpaid bills and almost $4 billion in missed payments to underfunded state pensions.

Shocker: Ill. GOP Senator-elect Mark Kirk seating delayed by "paperwork" delays

Joe Manchin and Chris Coons will take office on the first day of the lame duck Senate session. Of course they are Democrats. The corrupt democratic political machine in Illinois seems to be having trouble processing Republican Mark Kirk's paperwork.

The Washington Examiner reported:

Senator-elect Mark Kirk, R-Ill., is one of three senators elected Nov. 2 to fill seats vacated by individuals who joined the Obama administration. Illinois law requires that Kirk assume his office immediately following the election, but unnamed state officials say Kirk can't be sworn in until Nov. 29 due to "paperwork" delays.

Only 44% of Likely Voters in Obama's Home State Approve of Him

That Hopey-Changey feeling has worn off in Barack Obama's home state of Illinois. Only 44% of Likely Voters in Obama's home state approve of him.

PPP reported:

The Illinois poll we’ll release this week won’t do much to change the conventional wisdom on either the Senate or Gubernatorial race in the state but it does have one pretty surprising finding: Barack Obama’s approval numbers have dropped into negative territory even with likely voters in his home state. 44% approve of the job he’s doing while 49% say they disapprove.

Video: U.S. Senate candidate Giannoulias Calls Fellow Democrats 'Bozos'

Oh, my. You know things are bad for Democrats when a Democratic Senatorial candidate in Obama's home state of Illinois calls his fellow democrats 'bozos' and praises Republicans. Here is the stunning video of Democrat Alexi Giannoulias trashing his own party. Via FOX News:

Giannoulias Calls Fellow Dems 'Bozos' (video)

Obama May Throw His Old Senate Seat Under the Bus

President Obama is refusing to go to bat to try save his old Senate seat from falling into Republican hands. In spite of the fact the Democrat in the race, Alexi Giannoulias, is an old Obama basketball buddy, President Obama is unwilling to lay his prestige on the line. The Giannoulias family bank was seized last week; leaving a cloud hanging over the candidate. The Republican in the race is Rep. Mark Kirk. Kirk is leading in recent polling. (see above image from RealClearPolitics)

The Politico reported:

At the moment, the White House seems open to the idea of losing Obama’s old seat rather than putting the president’s prestige on the line for Giannoulias, the brash and boyish Illinois state treasurer — and onetime Obama basketball buddy — whose campaign has been rocked by the financial meltdown of his family’s bank.

Durbin said Emanuel was sympathetic to his pleas but ultimately noncommittal...

Emanuel, a former congressman from Chicago, tried but failed last year to get Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan into the race. Now, he told Durbin, it’s up to Giannoulias to prove his campaign has enough “viability and strength” to warrant Obama’s involvement.

Barack Obama's home state of Illinois "near the point of fiscal disintegration"

If you think California is in bad shape financially, Barack Obama's home state of Illinois isn't much better off. Forty-six percent of their $28 billion budget is a deficit.

Barack Obama's home state of Illinois is near the point of fiscal disintegration...

The state has been paying bills with unfunded vouchers since October. A fifth of buses have stopped. Libraries, owed $400m (£263m), are closing one day a week. Schools are owed $725m. Unable to pay teachers, they are preparing mass lay-offs. "It's a catastrophe", said the Schools Superintendent.

In Alexander County, the sheriff's patrol cars have been repossessed; three-quarters of his officers are laid off; the local prison has refused to take county inmates until debts are paid.

On top of this, the Chicago Tribune has reported Illinois has the poorest funded pension systems in the nation. Soon, Illinois may run out of budget gimmicks and financially disintegrate.