Open Thread (12/17/2009)

Posted December 17th, 2009 at 07:42 AM by IlliniPundit
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Thursday, December 17, 2009.

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On December 17th, 2009 at 09:37 AM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

From yesterday's Chicago Tribune

The Putback Amendment, sponsored by Springfield political reformer John Bambenek, is a broader package of changes, including term limits, a seven-day viewing of all legislation before a vote is taken, equal ballot access for third-party and independent candidates and redistricting changes. (Its Web site is putbackamendment.com.) Bambenek has endorsed the Fair Map proposal, but argues that it doesn't go far enough.

The rest of the article can found at

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-dennisbyrne,0,4370543.columnist

Did not know John Bambenek had moved to Springfield  ;-)

Greg Novak

Oil Man's picture
On December 17th, 2009 at 11:00 AM, Oil Man said:

I predict the 'Fair Map' proposal (elimination of the political practice called gerrymandering) is way too much reform to become law in the great state of Illinois.

On December 17th, 2009 at 12:57 PM, SEB (not verified) said:

Wow, equal access for 3rd party and independent candidates!  Geez, that guy must be sick.  You don't make things easier for those candidates, you make it harder.  After all, you don't want all those names crowding the ballot and confusing us poor dumb voters.  Besides, all votes are OWNED by the Republican and Democratic parties.

redstatewannabe's picture
On December 17th, 2009 at 01:09 PM, redstatewannabe said:

I found this a pretty interesting read, and a tricky issue in our country of religious freedom and property rights:

Mosque At the World Trade Center: Muslim Renewal Or Insult Near Ground Zero

especially after the recent Swiss minaret construction ban

 

On December 17th, 2009 at 01:32 PM, Corben Rice said:

 

Doesn't seem tricky to me unless the money for the mosque is coming from a known terrorist source.  If that is the case then the monies should be confiscated/frozen.  If not I see no problem.

If the problem is Imams preaching sedition then take it up with the particular Imam.  This should be a non-issue.

 

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for.-Obama

redstatewannabe's picture
On December 17th, 2009 at 01:41 PM, redstatewannabe said:

the money, cash, is coming from an unknown source (at this point anyway)

and, yeah, maybe should be an non-issue in theory, but throwing up a mosque next to ground zero would ... well, it would upset the sensibilities of many

akibare's picture
On December 17th, 2009 at 01:51 PM, akibare said:

...which quite frankly would speak very badly for the "sensibilities of many."

On December 17th, 2009 at 02:08 PM, Corben Rice said:

 

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for.-Obama

Me having the freedom of speech upsets the sensibilities of many but I still demand it.  Once we start trodding on these basic principles for our convenience we will find some day that our own prized liberties are gone as well. 

 

We don’t see people sensibilities disturbed by Christian Churches, or Libertarian/Republican meetings by the Federal building in Okalahoma City.  What is the difference here?

 

the Artichoke's picture
On December 18th, 2009 at 06:23 AM, the Artichoke said:

Sorry for change of topic here, folks, but I would like to pass along the story of Yumi the pit bull being stolen at the Urbana Dog Park yesterday: http://www.smilepolitely.com/splog/dog_snatched_at_urbanas_dog_park/  Sure hope they can catch the creep who did this... And that they find the dog safe and sound.

John Bambenek's picture
On December 18th, 2009 at 09:54 AM, John Bambenek said:

Greg-

I didn't know I moved to Springfield either.  For that matter, I didn't know I endorsed Fair Map. :)

For those curious, my amendment, the Put-Back Amendment was the subject of a WDWS newsmakers podcast you can listen to here.