Strip searches, groping and the illusion of "Safety"

In my last post, I ranted about being called a "sheep" for possibly subjecting myself to the indignity of undergoing either a virtual naked picture or being handled on the genitalia and breasts by glorified security guards as a condition of getting on an airplane.

I was supposed to go to Sacramento for a ragtime festival in which my significant other is appearing. When we bought the tickets in September, I wasn't aware of the presence of the scanner at O'Hare, from whence I would be flying. Even so, had I been selected for the random screening and refused the scanner, I would have been subjected to a normal pat-down. It wasn't until Nov. 1 that the Transportation Security Administration decided groping genitals and squeezing breasts were the "alternative" to nudie shots.

Well, after several sleepless nights and much agonizing, I decided to forgo the flight and stay home. I cannot tell you how difficult that decision was. My S.O. does not understand and feels that my refusal to accompany him was a lack of support for him. Of course, the cost of the ticket is non-refundable. So, big fight at home (and we almost never fight), financial loss much anxiety and anguish later, I'm sitting at home contemplating the state of affairs in our country. And I am ANGRY.

Having endured a groping as a child, I could hardly stand watching this video of a 3-year-old girl being "patted" (yeah... right):


I know - some of you who are parents see a cranky child being difficult. But as our perceptions are influenced by our experiences, I was screaming right along with that child, "Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" Now, I don't live my life as a victim. I don't dwell on those things which happened to me in the past, and while I still harbor anger and resentment about not having had justice served, I'm past most of the feelings of trauma. At least I thought I was. Funny how those things which we have buried deep in our psyche can bubble up when our memories are stirred or we are stressed, just as the Herpes virus which causes Chicken Pox can lurk deep in our tissues, only to emerge years later as shingles. So, here it was Tuesday and I was already feeling traumatized over what I MIGHT go through on Thursday.

But that isn't the only abuse I've seen the TSA perpetrate horrendous indignities on innocent people with no intent to do anything but get on a plane to fly somewhere:

• A young boy is strip searched in public for failing to raise his arms
• A blogger and radio show host was handcuffed to a chair for objecting to groping
• A cancer survivor left crying and covered in urine when TSA agent breaks seal on urostomy bag
• A mastectomy survivor asked to remove her breast prosthetic by TSA agent
• TSA agent in public view pulls pants off 71-year-old man with knee replacement

So, on the one hand, I have people saying we're all sheep for putting up with this. On the other, people are saying that the TSA must do this to keep us safe, so buck up and get over it or (and this is my favorite!) "DON'T FLY." That really should be followed up with a pththththttttt!! or at least "Nyah-nee-nyah-nee-nyah-nah."

Well, if looking at just this small sampling of TSA harassment really makes you feel safer, I must question your common sense. But gee... at least it's fair, and after all you wouldn't put it past the terrorist thugs to plant explosives on a tiny boy or in an octagenarian's prosthetic leg or a cancer survivor's prosthetic breast (or to inject some in her gel implant), right? So, let's take a look at just how safe these NEW procedures are keeping us, really, and how much an improvement they are over the old metal detector and wanding procedures they've been using since 9/11/01, shall we?

Let's start by counting the number of commercial airliners that have fallen out of the sky at the hands of terrorists since then; specifically, domestic flights. That's okay, I'll wait while you Google it. Still waiting... Okay, NONE. A UPS cargo plane came down, not in the US, though. That is ZERO for some 102 MILLION flights.

Now, let's count how many terrorists trying to get on planes have actually been caught by TSA agents through routine passenger screening. That's okay... I'll wait. Um... NONE. So, just in case you were thinking that zero planes down was a testament to how well the TSA is doing, that ought to burst your bubble.

While looking up other things, I discovered a very interesting website for a group called the Airline Pilots Security Alliance. Their site hasn't been updated in a while, but I've been assured by president Dave Mackett that they're in the process of doing that and will be pushing hard on Congress in January. Here are some snippets from their spotlight article:

The Truth about Airline Security

"The security strategy we use to protect this incomprehensibly large system was designed 40 years ago to deter rank amateurs from carrying guns onto airplanes to hijack them to Cuba. The threat we face today is anything but amateur. Al Qaeda is smart, patient, extraordinarily motivated, well-funded, and, above all, suicidal. There is presently no widely-deployable technology that has a significant chance of keeping such a well-prepared enemy out of such an impossibly large system every time – even most times.

...

"The American Airlines shoebomber passed through screening not once, but twice, wearing explosive-laden shoes, and was not detected despite being detained and questioned for hours within a month after intelligence warned of potential shoebombers; an untrained Maryland college student doing his own 'personal testing' of airline security successfully planted simulated weapons and explosives on multiple commercial airliners several years ago. He was successful every time he tried -- and in some cases, the weapons were not detected for weeks.

"Perhaps most damning, two recent classified TSA reports leaked to the public, confirm TSA screeners at multiple airports, failed to detect more than 90 percent of hidden weapons concealed by testers. This failure rate is nearly identical to that confirmed by a former FAA Red Team leader in covert penetration tests before 9/11. And these failures do not even consider an entire class of nearly undetectable weapons, like carbon knives and liquid explosives.

...

"Layer upon layer of new and more intrusive security, reacting to the latest 'just-discovered threat' cannot be the default response as time goes on. Focusing on defending the targets, and smarter, more selective passenger screening, as well as research and investment into less intrusive standoff screening and behavioral profiling, advantages not only the security of the traveling public -- it dovetails nicely into the revenue objectives of the airline industry by not alienating the very passengers the industry needs to remain robust. And it addresses the civil rights concerns of passengers who feel unnecessarily violated by the screening requirement. ..."

If you still think you're safe, go to their homepage and read all the articles under the heading, "How Safe Are You?" Or just read their summary article, "Reliability of Our Airline Security System as a Whole: There is very little chance we will be able to prevent or defend against the next 9/11."

They claim:

"The new 'multilayered' airline security system is a sieve, in which none of the layers work. Even all of them together cannot hope to prevent the kind of rehearsed, coordinated, well-planned terrorist attack Al Qaeda is capable of. Our government has spent $12 billion on airline security and recent government reports have found we’re no safer than we were before. ...

"It will take incorruptible people in positions of power who recognize the urgency of defending against future terror attacks and the truly woeful lack of preparedness of our present air security system, and are steadfast and fearless enough to put aside partisanship and special interests for the security of our country, to make us safe from future attacks, and to provide for the American people, true airline security.

"It will also take the concerted will of the country to hold them accountable to do so. Our failure to prevent future attacks will have devastating repercussions for American lives, our economy, our freedom and our collective futures.

"If Al Qaeda conducts a well-organized, coordinated attack on our airline industry tomorrow, there is much too great a chance they will succeed."

In test after test, agents and amateurs have been able to sneak weapons past checkpoints with 90-95% success rates. The scanners were put in place with the excuse that the Underwear/Christmas bomber would have been stopped. No, he wouldn't. Even David Pistole, the current talking head of the TSA, wouldn't quite go so far as to guarantee it when interviewed by Juan Williams on Nov. 19 (sorry, I can't find video on this, but trust me - he stopped short of saying the scanners and/or pat-downs would have caught that guy). But here's the deal - the Nigerian did not board the plane in the U.S. He had no passport. Security authorities in several countries were notified that the guy was a threat, but still he waltzed through security and onto a plane bound for the US. YOU JUST CAN'T FIX STUPID.

Oh, and speaking of not being able to fix stupid, check out this story, "Another TSA Outrage." It tells the tale of a soldier on his way home from Afghanistan on a military charter. Feel safer yet?

Even Congressman John Mica, one of the original authors of the bill establishing the TSA, has written to heads of more than 150 airports, asking them to opt out of TSA screening:

"When the TSA was established, it was never envisioned that it would become a huge, unwieldy bureaucracy which was soon to grow to 67,000 employees," Mica writes. "As TSA has grown larger, more impersonal, and administratively top-heavy, I believe it is important that airports across the country consider utilizing the opt-out provision provided by law."

In addition to being large, impersonal, and top-heavy, what really worries critics is that the TSA has become dangerously ineffective. Its specialty is what those critics call "security theater" -- that is, a show of what appear to be stringent security measures designed to make passengers feel more secure without providing real security. "That's exactly what it is," says Mica. "It's a big Kabuki dance."

So, let's see. No commercial passenger airliners out of 102 million since 9/11/01 have been taken out by terrorists. No terrorists have been caught in passenger screening. An awful lot of amputees, cancer victims, little old ladies, tiny tots and other innocent people have been shaken down, fondled, handcuffed, arrested, harassed, groped and humiliated, and I'll just bet the TSA has a huge collection of cigarette lighters, nail clippers, baby formula, applesauce, knitting needles and other everyday items which have never been used in a terror attack and could hardly be imagined as weapons. Even one of the creators of the TSA is telling airports to opt out. Common sense would dictate that these security measures are just not worth the hassle and expense.

But there's another thing that bugs me on a very deep emotional level. It's called the Constitution; and specifically the Bill of Rights.

Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I'm a law-abiding citizen with no criminal history, no ties to terrorism, no international associations outside of Canada and Europe. Even my driving record is so clean you can eat off it.

My purchasing a plane ticket to go to a ragtime festival does not constitute probable cause. Making me stand for nude imaging and groping my genitals and breasts are NOT REASONABLE SEARCHES.

I've had friends tell me that safety should trump the Constitution. Really? As far as I'm concerned, our safety lies within the Constitution. If "safety" came first, I suppose next they could put us into chutes, have us take off all of our clothes and do a full body cavity search, plus some sort of MRI to make sure we haven't swallowed explosives in balloons that are hidden in our stomachs. Maybe police should go from house to house, doing thorough searches for drugs, unregistered firearms or other contraband to keep us "safe."

Maybe we should just tear up our Constitution, which is supposed to protect us from unreasonable searches and seizures, which is pretty much what we do when we allow ourselves and our children to be treated like this. But remember that it is the Constitution which stands between us and tyranny. It guarantees that our freedoms remain intact and we remain unmolested by our government. Government workers sticking their hands down our pants, squeezing our "junk," without reasonable cause is so very, very wrong.

I'm told over and over again, "If you don't like it, don't fly." Okay. I didn't. Now hear this:

LIFE IS NOT WITHOUT RISK AND IS NOT COMPLETELY SAFE.

I say LOSE THE SCANNERS, STOP MOLESTING US. If you're afraid that the skies will no longer be safe, YOU DON'T FLY.

Sexual Molestation at Airports

This morning, as I was going through my Facebook, I noticed that the chatter over the oppressive practice of body scanning or groping is reaching a fever pitch. I have to go on a short trip in a couple of days and I'm pretty much terrified about what I may be subjected to in order to get on an airplane. I've tried to get out of going on this trip, and I hope to never fly again until this practice is stopped, but I really don't have much of a choice. But I read a comment today that sent me over the top. A very well-meaning person, a fellow freedom fighter, made a comment that people who go through this virtual strip search/fondling were "sheep." I blew a gasket. Here's my reply:

@C___ - "Sheep"? Think about this for a minute. I have to get on a plane myself in the very near future. I was RAPED as a teenager and molested as a child. I'm turning myself inside out over the thought of what I will have to endure at the airport as a condition of getting on a plane. I'm having anxiety attacks. I'm scared to DEATH of what kind of memories this treatment will bring to the surface (and a lot of them are already surfacing and being re-lived). I HAVE to get across the country and driving is not an option due to cost and time. If I could get out of this, I would. If you don't have to fly somewhere, it's easy to sit there and call other people "sheep." Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm anything BUT a "sheep." I feel angry. I feel violated. I feel like I'm going to be molested all over again. I would ask you, as someone who considers herself as a non-"sheep", what is your better idea? I don't know if I'll make it through the ordeal, and if I don't, I won't be on that plane and it will wreak havoc in my life and my relationship. Having to make a tough decision in the face of the increasing oppression and violation our government is subjecting us to does not make one a SHEEP.

My "history" is not something I choose to think of very much, nor do I allow it to ruin my quality of life. But now having to face this choice has dug up a lot of baggage which I would prefer to remain buried. I heard this morning that they're even doing this to LITTLE CHILDREN. I'm so sickened by this government intrusion - no, MOLESTATION - I could scream.

And I would ask you, what are YOU doing to stop the government from their march toward totalitarian oppression? I'm assuming a leadership position in our local Tea Party. I campaigned for candidates who respect our God-given rights and our Constitutional rights. I write a blog. I talk to legislators. If you're not out there, sticking your neck out, organizing friends and neighbors, doing everything humanly possible to stop the tide of oppression short of violence, then you, I respectfully submit, have NO RIGHT to call ME or anyone a SHEEP.

This crap MUST STOP NOW. The government does not have the right to "pat us down" using methods which, outside the airport, would be considered SEXUAL ASSAULT. Even the thought of what I might be subjected to has been a trauma. I still might back out of this trip, but much damage has already been done. This should not be a condition of flying.

Please, dear readers, get on the phone or send an email to your legislators and tell them we will not stand for this. But if you think it's okay to do this to 50-year-old ladies, 4-year-old boys and nuns, in the name of "safety," then, as Benjamin Franklin said, you deserve neither liberty NOR safety.

Onward, Tea Party Soldiers...

Yesterday was sure a mixed bag election wise. As a conservative, I should be elated at the change in power in Congress, but the results of local elections has almost entirely sapped my enthusiasm.

The election, short of a couple bright spots, were largely a disaster here in Northern Illinois. A lot of good, honorable people were chewed up and spit out by the political cartels. We have so much more work to do, if we can make it through the next couple of years. I'm thinking it might be time to move to Wisconsin.

Corruption and cronyism is rife in both parties. Out here in northern Illinois (as in most of the rest of the state, if not the entire country), party voting is a matter of choosing which cartel appears to pay you better. It's despicable. One of my good Facebook friends who was running for office in another state opined that the root of our country's problems is failure of political types to adhere to the Constitution. As far as I'm concerned, it's more than just lacking adherence to the Constitution which is to blame - it's a resignation to the perceived inevitability of being assimilated by one machine or another. It's elites in our local, state and federal government capitals making deals and appointing kings, all the while appearing to have our best interests at heart. I'm so disgusted I could spit.

And I have to wonder what people are thinking. Winnebago county has boasted the highest crime rate in the state of Illinois, yet the voters re-elected the man who has presided over this shameful blot, Sheriff Dick Meyers, passing over a fine and honorable man, Aaron Booker. Of course, they didn't have a chance to learn about that fine and honorable man because the local paper didn't cover much at all about the race except for the dog and pony show which ensued when the sheriff dragged Booker before a merit commission on trumped up disciplinary charges.

In legislative district 69, we had a very viable candidate, Robert Brokish, who lost rather handily to incumbent Democrat Chuck Jefferson, endorsed by the local paper for being a big suck on the teat of our already broke state government. Nice. Hey, voters! Hope you enjoy our tax increase coming down the tubes. Can you afford it? I guess you can.

And speaking of our broke state government, we still don't know who will be our next governor - fiscal conservative Bill Brady, or Blago protegé Pat Quinn, who has presided over perhaps the greatest financial debacle in the country. DUH. That should have been a no-brainer.

Gratefully, Congressman Don Manzullo, a good and pretty solid conservative, retained his seat, and so did State Senator Dave Syverson, although not without a few nail-biting moments as results vacillated as they trickled in. The Winnebago county board is now comprised of an overwhelming majority of Republicans, and some of the new members are conservative and hold to Tea Party principles.

Rockford Tea Party coordinator David Hale posted a rather wistful lament on Facebook this morning, along with a plea for more guidance and participation within the group. Criticism started to fly - everyone has an opinion and yes, they are entitled to them, but soon some of the disgruntled began to predict the end of our little Tea Party. It's not the end. This is just the beginning. We have much work to do. We have not been as successful as we would have liked. We aim to change that.

Remember that the Tea Party is more of a philosophy than an organization and our principles are these:

• Fiscal responsibility
• Lower taxes
• Free markets
• Constitutionally limited government

These are not new ideas, nor are they the exclusive property of any particular party or organization, nor are they "extreme" or "radical," as the Tea Party has been painted. These ideas will not die and We the People who are committed to them are not going away any time soon. We stand ready to be more effective in getting our message out and we believe that We the People will, sooner or later, realize that they can vote for their own best interests rather than whichever cartel seemingly offers the most benefits.

Einstein defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I don't believe the people of this state are at all insane, but I do believe they have been lied to and made to believe promises like those of an abusive spouse who says, "Gee, honey, I'm sorry. I won't hit you again." Yes, he will hit you again. Hitting you is on his list of acceptable choices. We the Tea Party hope to help you learn how to duck. Better yet, to escape and step out of the cycle. We have our work cut out for us in Illinois.

‎

"It does not take the majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tierless minority, keen on setting a brush fire of freedom in the minds of men."
~ Samuel Adams

"One man with courage is a majority."~Thomas Jefferson

Oh, and while you were paying attention to the election...

The Federal Reserve did something today that in February they promised they would not do - they monetized our national debt to the tune of $600 billion. Add that to the $1.7 billion they already monetized and we're in a whole world of trouble. If you don't know what that means, essentially the fed is issuing IOUs to sell in order to raise money (treasury bonds and other government debt), then printing its own money and buying those IOUs. This causes a great increase in the money supply. When the money supply increases without a corresponding increase in economic activity to stabilize its value, what results is inflation. The greater the imbalance, the greater the chance for hyperinflation. If you don't know what that is, you might want to read up on what happened in the Weimar Republic following WWI. Even the controversial Maynard Keynes observed: ""The inflationism of the currency systems of Europe has proceeded to extraordinary lengths. The various belligerent Governments, unable, or too timid or too short-sighted to secure from loans or taxes the resources they required, have printed notes for the balance."

They hope you're not watching - that you're distracted by the elections. They're not so far off, are they?

What are YOU trying to accomplish on Election Day?

I can't answer that question for you. Before you go vote today, I hope you will think long and hard about your answer. You've probably already made up your mind, but if you have any doubt, keep reading.

If you're going to the polls today because you like the direction your country, your state, your local municipality is going, then by all means, you should vote for the incumbent or the party of your incumbent, especially if it's the majority.

Me - I don't. I deeply fear for the direction in which our country is going. I also deeply fear for the direction in which Illinois is going. We're broke. There is no more money except for whatever the Fed can print, and the more it prints, the less value our savings will have in the future. Our economy is in horrible shape. Don't let the bastards tell you this is a "jobless recovery": without jobs, there IS no recovery. Jobs = productivity, and without productivity we have no economy, no growth and no future. The Obamacare abomination has very few redeeming qualities, but a whole lot of crippling provisions designed, intentionally or not, to break the backs of the insurance companies, take discretion away from your doctors, saddle businesses and individuals with burdensome taxes and mandates and red tape. Much has nothing to do with health care at all (like the 1099 mandate). It takes our choices away (men, ask yourselves - do you really need maternity benefits? You're forced to pay for them now). If Cap and Trade is passed, can you afford it when your energy bills "necessarily skyrocket," as Obama said? I can't.

So, I'm voting for two things, in this order: 1.) to stop the president's agenda and 2.) to reverse the growth of government intrusion and reduce the size of government and our tax burden.

As a conservative, I have felt for a long time that I have little representation in government. In Illinois, we have perhaps the worst parade of RINOs in the GOP outside of California. And the choices I have this year for certain offices are pitiful. It would be very easy for me to vote for some very worthy 3rd party candidates - Libertarian and Constitution party or even independents in protest. But I have to consider what that would accomplish.

To stop the president's agenda, and to stop the governor's agenda, my most important objective must be to unseat every sitting Democrat I can. And much as I hate to say it, the only way I can see to achieve that goal is to vote Republican, even if that Republican is a despicable RINO. In the congress, majority party matters, even if individual congressmen vote with the opposing party. The third party candidates might fulfill my second objective, but would do nothing to achieve my primary objective.

A VOTE FOR A THIRD PARTY CANDIDATE IS A VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT. At least, it is for now. Things may be different in two years if they GOP lets us down again, but for now, it's true.

I've always been a straight Republican voter, with minor exceptions. 2008 was the first time in my life I really felt that I was holding my nose when I voted. This year, my stomach is turning. I very much want to vote Libertarian or Constitution, but that will not achieve my primary objective - to unseat Democrats. In this state, there's no question that the party machine is corrupt and rotten to the core - I'm hoping that we can either fix that, or at least improve that, within the next two years. If the Tea party doesn't go away, which it won't if I can help it, 2012 will be the year the GOP dies, and it will be a bloodbath.

I won't fall into the "character" trap, especially in the house and senate. Character counts, but not nearly so much as party.

At a Republican political function on Saturday, I introduced myself as being from the Tea Party. Someone who had been speaking with GOP muckity-mucks recently, said to me, "Oh, my God, they're scared to death of you!"

My instantaneous reaction was, "Good! They should be." This is the way at least some of our founding fathers intended our government to be.

"When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny." -- Thomas Jefferson

I do not want to tell you how to vote. You have to vote your conscience. But whatever you do, whatever your political beliefs, by all means VOTE!

How I'm voting:

If I want to fire Harry Reid (assuming he'll pull his ass from the fire), I must vote for a Republican for Senate, even if it's the slimy Mark Kirk. I detest Kirk, and his constant harassment of endless robo-calls and negative campaign ads have done nothing to endear me to him. But as I did with McCain, I'm going to hold my nose and vote for him. Yes, we'll be stuck with him for six years, but all I can hope for is that we'll have a good shot at Durbin in a couple of years. Some that I've talked to expect Kirk will go with the flow to represent his constituency. I have no reason to believe that, but they may be right. I can hope. And if the Tea Party continues to be a force in politics, perhaps we can pressure him enough to stay on the conservative side of things.

For governor and Lt. Governor, I'm going for Bill Brady and Jason Plummer, although neither of them set me on fire. Brady is so busy sucking up to the machine, I'm losing hope already that he'll be conservative, but this is a vote against Quinn as much as anything else. My objective is to unseat Quinn, period.

I wish to hell the Republicans had come up with someone qualified to run against AG Lisa Madigan. I might vote a 3rd party there. Who the hell is Steve Kim? I don't think he's ever prosecuted a case before and that's a real problem. Oh, but he promises to be sensitive to minorities and the elderly. HUH? The AG should be sensitive to one thing - THE LAW.

Secretary of State - I really haven't been able to come up with any real dirt on Jesse White. Personally, I like Roberto Enriquez, but he has spent too much time wooing the Hispanic vote and ignoring the rest of us. I have to wonder about his agenda. Being a Dem is not enough for me to want to fire White. The previous Secretary of State was Republican George Ryan. He's still in prison.

Comptroller - Judy Baar Topinka has been marginal, and we didn't get into this financial mess without her complicity. I might go for the Libertarian here, Judy Fox. She's the only CPA in the race! Having spent a good 7 years of my life in accounting, IT MATTERS.

Treasurer - I do wish Rutherford had an accounting background as well. Party isn't so much a consideration here, but he looks like a party loyalist.

Robert Brokish closes gap in race for State Rep in D-67

Rob Brokish has had a tough fight this election. He's running against an entrenched Democratic incumbent, Chuck Jefferson, in a very mixed district in the southwest quadrant of Rockford and environs. Even though he's done the requisite time as a party foot soldier, serving as both a precinct committeeman and even appointed Vice-Chair of the Winnebago county GOP, the powers that be in the Illinois Republican Central Committee have decided that giving him any money at all just might prompt the Big Boys in Chicago to throw a bunch of money at Jefferson, and then, gee, that just might knock some other Republican incumbents off the cliff. So, good guys like Rob are left to scratch for money just to buy campaign signs.

That gutless rag, the Rockford Register Star, which has pretended to be alarmed over the financial condition of Illinois and the corruption which is rife (which they ignore in their own back yard), had the nerve to endorse Jefferson because, essentially, he's a suck-up to Mike Madigan, and was mentored by his predecessor in office, Edolo J. "Zeke" Giorgi (with known Mob ties), shows up at events to show he cares, and is in a better position than his opponent to try to suck money from the dry teat of Illinois' treasury (read that: taxpayers). Brokish has been trailing his opponent by about 15% at previous best guess, since his cash-starved campaign can't afford polling.

But his campaign got a little surprise last week. They got a call from downstate - the Illinois GOP did a little polling themselves and found that Brokish had closed the gap, trailing Jefferson by a mere 3 or 4 points - well within the margin of error.

Folks, this is a miracle!!!

I'm going to share with you something I sent to all my Rockford friends way back in June. Please copy it, share it, email it to your friends. A couple hundred votes could make the difference for this guy who deserves a chance to represent us in Springfield and help turn this shipwreck around. It's not too late for contributions, but if you have any friends in the 67th district or who might have friends in the 67th, please pass this along to them!

Open Letter to all my friends in Illinois and beyond…

As you probably know, I’m more concerned than ever about the future of our country and also of our state. We’ve reached a point where our freedoms are more threatened than ever. Our state and federal budgets are a shambles and out-of-control deficit spending is the rule rather than the exception. These conditions threaten our jobs, our future security and that of our children and our very way of life.

The state of Illinois is completely out of control. With a budget of $26 billion, we are facing a $13 billion shortfall - the worst fiscal crisis in the country outside of California. Yet a measure calling for a forensic audit of the state’s finances to identify waste and fraud was just defeated in the state house on a straight party line vote - Dems voting against the audit, Republicans voting for it. Nobody even knows what’s in the budget that was just passed and we’re staring down massive tax increases and hasty and draconian budget cuts - the latter only if our legislature decides to make tough decisions, which they’ve managed to avoid thus far - and yet not a single Democrat broke ranks to open the books!

For those reasons, I’m doing whatever I can to support candidates everywhere who have shown a commitment to fiscal responsibility, free markets and Constitutional integrity. One of those candidates is a newcomer, Robert Brokish, Jr., running for State Representative in District 67 which covers the Rockford Metro area. Rockford is the third largest city in Illinois which makes Dist. 67 one of the most important in the state outside of Chicago.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Rob on a number of occasions and can tell you that besides being a nice guy, he is committed to the principles I believe are critical to restoring our state to financial health, to restoring jobs and preserving our personal prosperity. In this era of out-of-touch politicians who care little about their constituencies, I find Bob’s willingness to listen a refreshing quality. I regret that I live outside of his district and thus cannot vote for him, but I have sent a contribution, albeit a small one. I only wish I could do more.

Anymore, merely voting for the representative of your choice in your district is not enough to ensure that our future state legislature is composed of individuals who can save it. If you care about the future of your state, I strongly urge you to consider making a contribution, even a small one, to this candidate in this most important district. If every one of you could forego a coffee and donut at Starbucks, it would make a difference. You can also help by passing this letter along to your friends and acquaintances. I wouldn’t ask this if we weren’t in very dangerous times.

More information is on his website:
http://voterobertbrokish.com/

His positions are available on Project Vote Smart:
http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=116665

Find him on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=10150205656970301#!/robert.brokish?v=info
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizens-for-Robert-Brokish/245227678990

Thank you for listening. It’s time to stop the insanity!

The 800-pound Gorilla

I meant to write this yesterday, but have been debating with myself about how best to go about it. There are some things which get sorta scary, and when things are scary, it's easy to jump to faulty conclusions. So I beg your forgiveness in advance if, while connecting the dots, I accidentally include a few dots which are on the periphery and are not part of the picture. You, dear reader, must do your homework and decide for yourself.

I can't say I was surprised when I saw that the Rockford Register Star endorsed Dick Meyers for Sheriff, but even though I expected it, I was disappointed. Having worked on a local paper for several years, I understand that local media fills a niche that nothing else can. Your local paper and TV stations bring you news of what is most likely to affect your life and your immediate future. The good people of Winnebago county have endured years of having the highest crime rate in the state of Illinois. I'm baffled when a paper like the RRStar goes 100 percent in the tank for the status quo. Something is really wrong in Rockford, and the Star is obviously not ready to be part of the solution.

I gotta hand it to the Rock River Times. Over the years, they have done some excellent reporting - some real digging and some brave exposés. They had the nerve to buck the Courthouse country club and not only endorsed Aaron Booker for Sheriff, but handed down a strong indictment of Meyers. They get it, at least on this race.

"Many people have really been waiting for a good candidate to run against Democrat Meyers. He is Don Gasparini’s heir. He has employed and promoted members of his family and friends, including the Gasparinis, for years. Yes, it’s called nepotism, and many people have come into the offices of this paper to complain about that, but they’d never go on the record. Fear of reprisals or loss of their jobs was very apparent.

"Many of those people were sheriff’s deputies. They have and continue to complain about low morale within the department. They say the majority of deputies support Booker and are excited about the possibility of Meyers’ defeat.

"Resentment over perceived preferential treatment and promotions are a large part of this problem. The allegations that Sheriff Meyers made sure his son, Deputy Chief Scott Meyers, had proper test scores on his lieutenant exam have been around for a long time. The problem was key witnesses would not go on the record with the allegations.

"There are other witnesses I am aware of who have made these allegations, but now former Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Kudzma has made the allegations on WNTA radio and in the local daily.

"Kudzma never spoke to this paper directly, but several of his fellow officers relayed the allegations he has now made public.

"You could say this is just a bunch of disgruntled employees who want to replace their boss with one of their own. However, after years and years of repeated complaints, I must say something is very wrong in the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department.

"The continual resurrection and delay of a full hearing on charges against Meyers’ opponent, Aaron Booker, is just par for the course. These tactics are so revelatory in themselves, voters should really want Meyers out. When a man prosecutes his opponent for an elected office and leaves the verdict hanging before the election, that is a lowly smear campaign.

"Deceptive campaigns are nothing new to Meyers. The improper and deceitful push to build the taxpayer money pit known as the Winnebago County Justice Center has been well documented in this paper by our former reporter Jeff Havens. The “just 1-cent” public relations juggernaut everyone fell for was lead by the former Winnebago County State’s Attorney Paul Logli, the former Winnebago County Board Chairman Kristine Cohn and Meyers. Their scare tactics built Meyers an empire. He doesn’t want to give that power up, and he does not react well to any type of challenge of any kind. Look at his reaction to these latest charges.

"Meyers is used to having his way in his own little world, and he’ll cover for his own until everyone calls him on the carpet. Look at how he originally casually dismissed the sexual harassment charges about the computer porn that was passed around his office. Anyone who did that in any other office would get canned so quickly, they’d spin like a top out the door. Yet, in an office that supposedly enforces laws against such things, it’s a casual matter under Meyers."

Still, this has nothing to do with crime. Now you, dear Rockford friends, may not live in a high crime area and you may not think it affects you. If you read only the RRStar, you would believe that.

The Times reported on a rather interesting gathering on Aug. 4, 2005. State Rep. Chuck Jefferson (who is being opposed by the most worthy Robert Brokish) called a meeting to discuss crime. This should get your attention:

Important crime topics not discussed at meeting

Winnebago County's incarceration rate tops former Soviet Union; organized crime not addressed

About 25 representatives from several government and non-government agencies met Aug. 4 in a 90-minute roundtable discussion about crime in the Rockford area. While the group, headed by State Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-67), addressed issues relating to property, drug, sex and violent crimes, conspicuous by its absence was the lack of discussion about white-collar and organized crime.

Even though outgoing Rockford Police Chief Steve Pugh and the Rev. Perry Bennett of Macedonia Baptist Church said June 23 that "trust" in police and public officials was key to crime reduction, the group discussed conditions relating to blue-collar crime, such as installation of exterior video cameras throughout the city, probable cause for police searches of vehicles, concerns about racial profiling, sensitivity training for police, improved programs for former inmates on parole, and convicted sex offenders in the community and public housing.

...

Asked whether the committee would discuss white-collar and organized crime at their next meeting, given that trust in public officials is key to crime reduction, James Burns, legislative aide to Jefferson responded: "That's a very, very good point."

Rockford's incarceration rate HIGHER THAN IN THE SOVIET UNION? Organized crime? Something is very wrong with this picture. Now your head should start to spin:

According to Wayne Johnson, former chief investigator for the Chicago Crime Commission, the most perilous aspect of organized crime is its potential to corrupt the legislative and judicial process through campaign contributions, and support of judges and key public officials.

Johnson fears that with focus on blue-collar crime, gangs and homeland security, "nobody" is monitoring organized crime members and associates.

His concerns appear to be supported by recent revelations exposed by The Rock River Times that Chicago Mafia associate Nick Boscariono purchased three properties in Winnebago County since 2004; indictment in April of former Rockford resident and alleged Mob hit man Frank G. Saladino; destruction of Mob intelligence files in the mid-1980s by unknown Rockford Police officials; leasing of office space by the former Illinois Attorney General's office from a business group that in 1999 listed an alleged Mafia soldier as one of its members; and imprisonment in January 2005 of Frank Saladino's cousin, Joseph W. Saladino, on federal weapons charges.

Joe Saladino was found in February 1997 with a machine gun, butcher knife, tree-trimming saw, pipe wrench, billy club, two bolt cutters, two face masks, two handguns, and two books on how to make gun silencers in the trunk of his car.

I'm Italian. Well, I'm half Italian and was raised by the Italian half of the family. I spent my formative years in Westchester and Hillside, Illinois, and spent part of my youth slinging plates and serving drinks in restaurants. That's where I learned that whenever you find a bunch of Italian names, be suspicious, or at least curious. I was a sharp and curious kid. I got to know some of the players in my hometown and how they operated. The ones I knew are long gone, so I can talk about it now. And before y'all go off on me for condemning all Italians, I'm not. Not all Italians are "connected," and not all "connected" are Italian. I can say that. I'm Italian. Connect the dots and do it carefully. Some family members are separated by generations and also by philosophy, and I'm not saying that the sins of the fathers should be borne upon the sons, but favors and favoritism often do cross generational lines.

Something said about Meyers stuck in my mind from the endorsement: "He is Don Gasparini’s heir. He has employed and promoted members of his family and friends, including the Gasparinis, for years."

Besides being a writer, I'm also an amateur genealogist and historical researcher. I hit Google hard yesterday and learned a little history. Don Gasparini, Sr. was Meyer's predecessor, and his son, Don Jr., is a Chief Deputy. Don Jr. also is a trustee on the Harlem Township board. Before he was a sheriff, the elder Gasparini was an undertaker. The family business is still operating - The Gasparini and Oliveri Funeral Home.

Before we go any further, I suggest you read this page which gives you a pretty good history of Mob operations in Rockford and bios on the key players.

Like many other cities and especially Chicago, Rockford suddenly became active with bootleggers during the Prohibition era. Two gangsters on opposing sides of the fence would emerge on the scene at the same time and their war would bring about the Rockford crime family.

Paul Giovingo was considered the bootlegger's bootlegger. His rival was Antonio Musso, who had arrived from Madison, WI and had designs for controlling the stills and speakeasies surrounding Rockford. Italian gangsters from Chicago and Milwaukee were also in on the action.

Long story short, Musso became the Rockford boss in 1932. Here's where we make the Gasparini connection:

An item of noteworthy (sic) regarding Musso was his ability to pave the way for relocating gangsters. One in particular was Sam Oliveri who was born in Palermo, Sicily in 1895. Oliveri had first relocated to Chicago and became involved with what was called the Calumet City Cheese War. On the lam and looking for a home Musso invited Oliveri to Rockford. When the gangster arrived he quickly decided he wanted to go into the funeral business and proceeded to pressure John Gasparini, a well known and establish(ed) funeral parlor operator. When he refused Musso intervened and Gasparini had a new partner. Oliveri would remain an active soldier until his death in 1969. The funeral home would often be used for a meeting spot to iron out differences. The funeral home is still in operation today.

Poor John Gasparini. He was more a victim than anything else. But willing or not, he became part of the Rockford "family." I'm not sure of the relationship, but Don Gasparini, Sr. was an undertaker and worked at the funeral home which Don Jr.'s associates refer to as the family business even today. Just sayin'. There's a connection there.

There are plenty of other connections, too. Go back to this page and read about Frank Saladino and the brothers Salavatore "Sam" and Natale Galluzzo. You're smart - I don't have to spoon feed you. Go read it.

Chances are if you're arrested in Rockton or Loves Park, you'll be prosecuted by Paul Nicolosi, brother of Phil Nicolosi, who was appointed Winnebago State's Attorney a couple years ago when Paul Logli vacated the position, being appointed to a judgeship. (Isn't this already sounding a little crazy with all this "appointing" going on? I mean, aren't these supposed to be elected positions, with the "appointers" being We the People? )

Paul Nicolosi was disclosed as being a partner in a business venture called Buckley Partners, LLC. Along with Nicolosi, partners were Sam and Natale Galluzzo, and other members of the Nicolosi and Galluzzo families. In 1999, they owned property at the corner of Argus Drive and Perryville road, which they leased to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. They also owned another property on Ware avenue which they leased to the University of Illinois. Madigan's office abruptly left the building in 2003, citing "building code violations" as the reason for the quick exit, but officials in Rockford are just scratching their heads. It should also be noted that Sam Galluzzo's son, Geraldo "Gino" Galluzzo, is an attorney and partner in Paul Nicolosi's law firm.

Enter Daniel Salafsky. Salafsky worked for Paul Logli while Logli was still the State's Attorney. His father, Dr. Bernard Salafsky, was the Dean of the University of Illinois' College of Medicine in Rockford who gained attention for retaliating against a whistleblower, one Dr. Joseph Levenstein. Dr. Levenstein became alarmed when he noticed that about $2 million were missing from the school's koffers. Lawsuits flew all over the place, tens of millions of dollars disappeared (that's taxpayer dollars). Daniel was a real character. At the time he was working as an assistant State's Attorney he didn't have a license to practice, having failed to take required fitness and character evaluations. My money says he would have failed those, too, having been convicted of bank fraud in 1996, and later of theft, official misconduct and impersonating an attorney in 1999. In 1998, he stole $70,000 from the evidence room at the Rockford Police Department.

Believe it or not, the Medical School scandal tied into the crazy courthouse construction cartel through a couple of builders and architects, notably Ringland-Johnson Construction, Inc. and the Scandroli Construction company (Oh, boy... there's an Italian name again!). This article tells it all. Read it. The end of the article ties all of this to Sheriff Dick Meyers and (gasp) the Gasparini family, and we come full circle:

Appointments

In 1997, Meyers was appointed Winnebago County Sheriff after the retirement of Don Gasparini (D). The same year, the former sheriff's son, Marc Gasparini (R) was appointed to the county circuit clerk's position after Ron Kotche retired from that post.

Sources said Kotche left the position before his term was complete to enable Marc Gasparini to get the job and run with the power of an incumbent. Sources alledge that in return , Kotche was sold a piece of property on Fish Hatchery Road by the elder Gasparini. Denying those allegations, Don Gasparini and Kotche's supporters argue the two stepped down in 1997 to take advantage of early retirement packages.

Marc Gasparini is currently asking the Winnebago County Board to re-zone about 7.5 acres of property near Kotche's property from agriculture to residential even though it is not consistent with the county's wetland use plan.

Partners

Joe Scandroli Sr.'s construction company is a partner with Johnson for the jail construction manager position. Reportedly, the elder Gasparini's sister is married to Scandroli Sr. The Scandroli family has recently contributed cash to the campaigns of Marc Gasparini, Meyers and Cohn.

So, is it any surprise that when the Harlem Township board considered passing an anti-nepotism ordinance in January of this year, Don Gasparini, Jr. voted against it? He was joined in this vote by Doug Aurand (also a county board member), whose wife earns about $10,000 a year as a part-time janitor, a position she has held for about eight years.

“The board felt that there was no need for an anti-nepotism resolution because Harlem Township has always hired the most qualified candidates available,” Aurand said.

It's also interesting to note how much money it took Gasparini to run for that little township position. Just sayin'.

What's also interesting is that way back in 1969, then State's Attorney Philip Reinhard declared Rockford's little "family" as "retired or inactive," and later admitted that during his 11-year tenure as Winnebago county's top prosecutor, he never knowingly prosecuted a single Mob member.

Jeff Havens, the former Rock River Times reporter who broke most of this stuff, has a lot of information on the Chicago Syndicate blog. The blog is fully searchable and you can get the dirt... er... the "scoop" and background on a lot of Rockford political types there. Go and have fun.

So, what does this all mean to you? In my experience, towns which have a strong Mob presence learn to co-exist with the forces that they feel are unbeatable. They negotiate the level of crime that will be tolerated in the community and work hand-in-hand with bosses. You, the resident and taxpayer have to deal with the consequences. You have to know who you're voting for, and for your sake, you better choose the guys and gals with guts. Corruption affects you at every level, and God forbid you should ever wind up in a fracas with the law. Winnebago county officials have not done you justice, and you cannot often find justice in Winnebago county. We're notorious. Don't file bankruptcy if you live in Winnebago county!

Oh, remember that little meeting that State Rep. Chuck Jefferson held? Here's his conclusion:

Jefferson closed the meeting by saying he supported County Board members' efforts to spearhead neighborhood watch programs. He also encouraged sensitivity training for police officers.

WHO ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE FOR TOMORROW, ROCKFORD?

Just so we're clear - I'm not accusing anyone in this article of any crime, other than those who have already been identified as convicted of crimes or who exist on dossiers which are well-known. Being friends or family of criminals is not, in itself, criminal. I am, however, wary of those with criminal connections and the nepotism in Winnebago county is alarming.

Wake up, Rockford! Time for Meyers to GO.

I started out the day with an interview with another former political opponent of Meyers - James Kidd, former Winnebago County Corrections officer, who decided he'd had enough of the shenanigans at the sheriff's department and ran against his boss in 2006. This story might sound familiar to you...

James Kidd, a former Marine sergeant, started with the Sheriff's department as a corrections officer in October of 1999. He's seen a lot since then. Most of it I can't report here because without evidence in my hands I might be liable of libel, and even with it I might not avoid a lawsuit. Kidd is not hard to find around Rockford - I'll let you find him and ask him yourself.

For various reasons he decided to run against his boss. This started him on a trajectory which ended in his firing in June 2008.

During his campaign, a fellow previously unknown to Kidd approached the candidate about hosting a "meet and greet." Fine - nice of a concerned citizen to get involved. Allegedly, when the sheriff got wind of it, he ran a background check on this citizen (is that even legal?). Turns out that this fellow had previously been a registered sex offender. Kidd said that the label should have dropped off the guy's record after 10 years or so, but for some reason it remained. While it apparently didn't reach the threshold of being "news" to the local papers, word went out on the street that Kidd was hanging out with child molesters.

Now, before you say that is just too much of a stretch to believe, this story just crossed my computer screen this morning, before I went to the interview:

Anchorage CBS Affiliate Caught on Voicemail Conspiring Against Alaska’s GOP Senate Candidate

The following voice mail message was inadvertently left on the cell phone of Joe Miller campaign spokesperson Randy DeSoto.

The voices are believed to be those of the news director for CBS Anchorage affiliate KTVA, along with assignment editor Nick McDermott, and other reporters, openly discussing creating, if not fabricating, two stories about Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Joe Miller.

The following is a transcript of a call recorded after CBS Alaska affiliate KTVA called Joe Miller’s Senate campaign spokesperson. The call failed to disconnect properly. It was later authenticated by McDermott, who sent a text to Randy DeSoto stating, “Damn iPhone… I left you a long message. I thought I hung up. Sorry.”

Caught on tape was a jovial conversation between two news reporters, a male and female. The male said, "... Joe Miller's ... uh ... get a list of the people/campaign workers ... which one's the child molester?"

The female responded, "You know that of all the people that will show up tonight, at least one of them will be a registered sex offender."

This is a pretty old and reliable dirty campaign trick. Get a large enough group together and you'll find at least one sex offender, someone with a criminal background, a racist, a social misfit, whatever - then tag the candidate with hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Other allegations floated around but it seems not much was made about the race in the press and Kidd lost the election with about 36% of the vote. Soon after that, while executing his duties as a union steward, Kidd sat down with some military veterans to discuss changes in the laws as well as general veteran's issues. It seems that some issues were arising with several deputies or corrections officers who were also serving in the military reserves.

One officer Matt Bunk, had been given an ultimatum by a sergeant to choose either the sheriff's department or the military some time before the election, Kidd told me. In January 2007, Jeremy Phfaulme chose the army over the department. Kidd started to press the issue with the department, considering the pressure to leave as a "constructive discharge" - essentially, a forced firing due to their military service. The upstream union representative did not support their complaint, Kidd said, so they filed complaints with the Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office and the EEOC in early 2008.

It seems that Sheriff Meyers had enough. In what Kidd says is retaliation, in June 2008 and within 30 days of the complaint, he was fired. The disciplinary action included charges of excessive use of force, intimidation and conduct unbecoming an officer. Shortly after, Matt Ashman, a reservist and Bronze Star Medal recipient, was fired for excessive absenteeism while on military orders, Kid alleges. Both Kidd and Ashman were denied unemployment benefits, they say by the sheriff's office.

I should add that subsequent to his firing, Ashman and his family lost their home. Kidd had three homes - two which he would rent to deserving ex-prisoners trying to get their feet back on the ground, provided they got jobs and opened checking accounts - no cash. He lost them all. Kidd now operates a landscaping business. Recently suspended Sgt. Aaron Booker will have to deal with having no income for three months. He is the custodial parent of several children and a dog.

Kidd has dogged Meyers publicly for a reason why Ashman was denied unemployment benefits (not on his own behalf), and generally got only a cold shoulder. Here are a couple videos he took at campaign events:





Yes, Sheriff Meyers, "Is there a reason why you won't answer the question?"

At the Tea Party-hosted debate Thursday, he actually took a stab at it. He said that the decision to deny benefits was the responsibility of the county board, stating that it was a "county issue," not a "sheriff's issue." Yet on Saturday at the GOP/Booker rally, Scott denied giving that order and told Kidd to check with Human Resources. So much for that...

But what was most chilling was Kidd's response to a story I told him of someone I knew who had a bit of a run-in with the law on a routine traffic stop (the type of traffic stop which is far too routine in Winnebago county and its municipalities). Things escalated well beyond what was called for in the situation.

"Do you know why that happened?" Kidd asked me, almost rhetorically.

"Noooo...." I said.

"Officers can't use their own judgment anymore for fear of retribution," he said.

Think about that. What with dash cams and automatic radar, the days of "Go forth and sin no more," or "I'll let you off with a warning," are gone in Winnebago county, not for fear of immediate dismissal, but for fear that should they misstep sometime in the future, the Sheriff will have ammunition for retaliative disciplinary action.

At the debate, Meyers also talked about "progressive discipline," which is supposedly the policy of the department and the process by which he justified the action taken against Booker. Interesting that Booker had an actual suspension on his record prior to 2006 when he was given a shift command at the 911 center. Still, he received a near perfect performance appraisal. Just prior to his assignment at the 911 center was the incident with Paul DiVenti, which I discussed in an earlier post, resulting in a letter of reprimand in his file - not a "progressive" disciplinary action. Still, a near-perfect review. A number of other letters and such appeared in his file, while he continued to receive very favorable performance appraisals. Funny that only after he declared his intentions to challenge the sheriff for the job did he find himself dragged before the Merit Commission - a process which played out over many months resulting in a 90-day suspension practically on the eve of election day.

Funny how that "progressive discipline" didn't come into play when in 2006 a deputy was responding to a call at high speed on a busy street at night without lights and siren, and he t-boned another vehicle at an intersection, killing two people and injuring one. That little escapade cost the county (read that: taxpayers) $17 million in settlements, of which less than $5 million was covered by liability insurance. The county had to issue bonds to cover the rest, which will cost the taxpayers another $6.5 million by the time it's paid off in 2029.

But here's the kicker, from the article:

A statement from Bachman family members added: “Equally important is the sheriff’s commitment to finally conduct an internal affairs investigation into all aspects of this horrific crash. We believe this next phase of pursuing justice is critical for the future public safety of other citizens and proper accountability.”

Well, I can't tell you if an internal investigation was conducted, but the officer involved didn't get 90 days off without pay. He didn't get fired, didn't have benefits denied. That kind of progressive discipline it seems is reserved for guys who bring puppies to work, speak harshly to disobedient employees, accidentally nod off in front of a computer screen at the end of a long shift, or go out on military reserve exercises.

Oh, and speaking of nodding off, it seems that Sgt. Booker isn't the only member of the sheriff's department who does that...

Oopsie!

Stay tuned for more... Interesting what one can find while looking up other things!

Hot off the Presses: Rockford Tea Party Supports Booker

This came in this morning from the Rockford Tea Party. It was sent to all local media, but we don't trust 'em. -- APW

Rockford Tea Party Supports Booker for Sheriff


ROCKFORD--The Rockford Tea Party pledges its full support of Aaron Booker, Republican candidate for Winnebago County Sheriff, despite his suspension from duty yesterday.

Calling Booker’s disciplinary hearing a “show trial,” organizer David Hale said it’s time for a change in the sheriff’s office.

“Sheriff (Richard) Meyers has shown a pattern of mismanagement, dishonesty and nepotism in the department,” Hale said. “We believe that Booker’s prosecution was politically motivated and is entirely without merit, and we are behind him 100 percent.”

In fact, on September 29, Tea Party participants voted unanimously in favor of Booker on a sample ballot.

Winnebago county has had the highest crime rate in the state of Illinois for several years. Recent reports of disorder at the 911 call center, cheating on civil exam scores, the firing of deputies for absenteeism relating to military reserve exercises and other department abuses under Sheriff Meyers’ command call into question his ability to continue to lead the department in an efficient manner and to protect and serve the citizens.

“While we honor Meyers’ service to his country and to the sheriff’s department, we believe it is time for him to step down. Booker has shown a commitment to the Constitutions of the United States and Illinois and a dedication to preserving both the safety and the rights of Winnebago residents,” Hale said.

Hang Down Your Head, Bill Brady...

Ugh. Gotta love Facebook. You get stuff fresh from the source, unfiltered by biased media.

This morning, this gem from Bill Brady, likely the next governor of Illinois:

After a hard fought primary, Illinois has a unified Republican ticket. Despite the tight race, differences we may have had are resolved. Our ticket is strong and dedicated to all the people of Illinois. I am pleased to appear with Mark Kirk throughout the State today. Come on out and show your support!

I know you have to play the game, Mr. Brady, and once you win this one you'll be indebted to the Illinois machine. But I hope you will realize that you're even more indebted to the PEOPLE who will ELECT YOU. The machine works against us in ...so many ways. Up here in Rockford, the machine has virtually ignored some excellent Republican candidates, left them scratching for money just for campaign signs, as the central committee is literally throwing races. We even have Republicans in Winnebago county endorsing DEMOCRAT candidates, showing loyalty to a "Courthouse Party," and throwing the Republican electorate (as well as their CHOSEN candidates) under the bus.

I pray, sir, that you will remember that it's not the party elites who will make or break you - it's the good people of Illinois who are sick to death of being manipulated and disenfranchised. I don't know a good conservative who feels anything but REVULSION at the prospect of voting for Kirk. I swear, if our primaries were still being held in April rather than February, we would have had a good, solid conservative as our candidate. Most Tea Partiers up here plan to either write in a 3rd party candidate or not vote at all, even if it means a win for Giannoulius. We're tired of being told "You'd better vote for this despicable RINO or else!!!" Well, sir, we have gone so long without adequate representation that we know from experience that the "or else" isn't much worse than the RINO.

So go ahead and play your political game now - I know you must. But know that it will not make you any friends outside of Chicago, nor among Constitutional conservatives. Good luck on Tuesday. Maybe after that you can concentrate on representing We the People, not We the Party Elites. At least, I hope you can.

The dirtiest race just got dirtier...

(A continuation of my earlier story...)

Well, the verdict is in. Booker found guilty on all counts but one: sexual harassment. The only good news is that the sheriff didn't get what he wanted - a demotion. Instead, the merit commission gave Booker 90 days off, without pay, and what amounts to probation for a year. In the environment I described, were a mere joke between friends can result in disciplinary action even when the friend vouches for the fact that it was a joke and no harm was done or offense taken, good luck with that, Aaron.

But here's the sad thing - it wasn't just a proud and honorable man who was chastised today. It was the good citizens of Winnebago county - the ones who elected him as their candidate. The sheriff could have chosen to run an honorable campaign on the issues, and there are plenty of them. Winnebago county has the distinction of having the highest crime rate in the state of Illinois, nearly 6,000 per 100,000 population. That's substantially higher, by more than 1,000, than even Cook county where Chicago is located. (Click here for Illinois State Police crime data by county - PDF format only.)

Granted - much of that crime is in Rockford, and without question something is amiss there, but the Sheriff is still the top law enforcement official in the county and can go far to coordinate efforts between municipal departments and implement interdepartmental crime prevention programs and improve reporting and intelligence. But still, something is critically wrong in Winnebago. The local media was A.W.O.L. on coverage of this race, but got their undies all in a twist over the salaciousness of the charges against Booker.

It's pretty clear that the situation at the 911 centers is a nightmare. These are the true first responders to citizens' emergencies - the ones who make sure that a police officer or fire truck or ambulance arrive to help on time, and that they have the necessary backup. The current setup was essentially the brainchild of Meyers - Booker had to live with it.

And once again, as is the case so frequently in northern Illinois, there's no help for the Republican candidate from the state central committee. Few TV and radio ads for Booker, while cable is plastered wall-to-wall with Meyers' ads. The allegedly Republican coroner, Sue Fiduccia, has jumped ship and endorsed Meyers, along with Boone county sheriff, Republican Duane Wirth, showing their loyalty to the "Courthouse Party" as predicted by Chuck Sweeney in November 2009. And when the much-beleaguered Republican state senator Dave Syverson found his name accidentally included in a list of supporters on Booker's website, he promptly and adamantly demanded his name be removed. Nice, huh?

I can only hope that the good people in Winnebago county will decide to take a sledgehammer to the Good-Ol'-Boys' network and decide that it's time for a change. Booker has promised to drop the county's crime rate ranking to "at least out of the top 10." Maybe he can, maybe he can't. But it doesn't seem he can do any worse than the incumbent.

Winnebago Sheriff's Race Dirty as Hell

This is a weird one. Here are the candidates:

Sheriff Richard (Dick) Meyers, Democrat, incumbent. Navy veteran. Became deputy sheriff in 1968, appointed to sheriff's post by the county board in 1997, won election to the post in 1998 and re-elected in 2002 and 2006.

Sgt. Aaron Booker, Republican, challenger. Ex-marine. Began law enforcement career in Loves Park in 1983, joined sheriff's department in 1993. Promoted to sergeant in 2006. Now running against his boss. Assigned to supervise a shift at the county's consolidated 911 call center in 2006 - a pet project of Meyers.

Booker and Meyers have pledged to run a gentleman's campaign, and as far as their ads are concerned, they have held to their agreement. Booker is running on the platform that the department "needs improvement" and has suggested nepotism and mismanagement. Not hard to believe when the sitting sheriff has been sitting in the top chair for more than 12 years.

Meyers' campaign has focused on his experience. (Unfortunately, his commercial doesn't seem to be available on the web, but he has some background videos on YouTube.) Neither is screaming to the streets how rotten and crooked the other is. Sounds nice, huh? Almost refreshing considering the current political environment.

Well, not really. When Booker announced in November 2009, running in the GOP primary against Randy Sturm, a well-known local guy and former Winnebago County Board member, political observers already recognized that things could get interesting. Rockford Register Star senior editor Chuck Sweeney opined on November 30:

Should Booker win, I’ll be interested to see what happens to the informal organization I call “the Courthouse Party.” Both Republicans and Democrats inhabit this party, and these officeholders tend to look out for one another to maintain their incumbency. Will the GOP members of the Courthouse Party stand by their man, Meyers, or go with the winner of the GOP primary? Stay tuned.

Heh. He got more than he bargained for.

Booker won the primary on February 2, 2010, and Sturm endorsed him soon after. Then things, at least on the surface, became quiet. Very quiet. But behind the scenes, the wheels were turning in the Sheriff's office.

In early January, a group of 911 operators filed a complaint with the Sheriff regarding Booker's conduct, alleging that Booker was quick to anger and had created a hostile work environment, that he would sleep on the job and (gasp!) would bring a puppy to work, and other stuff that most of us who have worked in an office, especially a busy, stressful and overworked one, would consider pretty minor. At least, I would. Normally, such issues would be filed through a union grievance process, but in this situation, the Sheriff decided that an internal investigation was required. In an unprecedented move, the department hired an outside investigator to look into the accusations. The investigator, former sheriff's Lt. Steve Pirages, had extensive experience in criminal investigation but none in internal investigation, and Booker remained unapprised of his situation until the query was well underway.

The investigation was complete by late February or early March. But nothing happened. On April 10, Booker received his annual performance appraisal which contained an overall rating of above average - somewhat down from his previous appraisals of near-perfect to perfect, but hardly cause for concern, given the circumstances.

In August, Sheriff Meyers let the other shoe drop. He empaneled a Merit Commission, comprised of citizens hand-picked by the sheriff, and filed charges of intimidation, harassment, threatening behavior and sexual discrimination against Booker and seeking his demotion from sergeant to deputy. It struck many locals as odd that there was a five-month lag between the conclusion of the investigation and the actual pursuit of disciplinary action, but we've been assured by the department's Chief Deputy Kurt Ditzler (the number two guy) that this is all routine and is, of course, not politically motivated. And of course, we believe him (wink, wink).

The Merit Commission, realizing the urgency of the matter and the need for the challenging candidate to either clear his name or take his lumps before the November 2 election, set a hearing for August 26, but then canceled it, eventually rescheduling it for October 5. Booker pointed out that had the charges been serious, he would have been placed on paid administrative leave. Of course, we believe him (no winks - the charges, if true, would expose the sheriff's department to a whopper of a lawsuit, and that wouldn't be very good management. But then again, a paid administrative leave would give Booker an awful lot of time to campaign, and that wouldn't be very good politics, but I digress.)

Meanwhile, the local papers were doing hardly any coverage on the candidates at all. Nothing, except printing a few letters to the editor here and there. Then on October 5, all hell broke loose, and the Merit Commission, as well as the good people of Winnebago county, have been subjected to a true dog and pony show. Minus the ponies, but the dogs were there, with State's Attorney Joe Bruscato making much of allegations that Booker brought a puppy to work. Also in the center ring were weeping women and pontificating police officials, and the poor commissioners had to sit through this for three days, all looking very serious and pensive (and some looking as if they'd merely been glued to their chairs, or replaced by works of art by Tussaud). The media went into a frenzy, witnessing the most exciting, if not the cheesiest political tussle in memory. Three days of "death by a thousand paper cuts," without Booker having a chance to present his defense, and the Merit Commission closed the proceedings until OCTOBER 27 - mere DAYS before the election. If there was any doubt in anyone's mind that this circus was politically motivated, they were immediately dispelled.

Meanwhile, the manure-slinging marathon was picked up by the masses. On October 18, an anonymous Samaritan probably from within the department released a package of pornographic emails that had circulated around the department, including the addresses of the forwarders and creating a paper trail leading all the way up to the Sheriff's office, creating a huge flap in local media. Several deputies have claimed they were discharged illegally for absenteeism due to their activities in military reserves, but have had difficulty finding a local attorney to represent them (surprise, surprise). A former sheriff's Lieutenant, Steve Kudsma, admitted being told to alter the results of the sergeant's exam scores of Meyers' own son. An ex-911 operator, recently retired, wrote a guest column exposing chaos at the county's emergency response center and accusing Meyers of misappropriation of funds. The Rockford Register Star in an unabashedly gutless move, said it would "choose" a sheriff's candidate, adding that it would not be an "endorsement." (Funny that they ran a poll on that announcement. Booker wins hands down with 60%, Meyers trails with 23%, 15% being so fed up as to commit to "leave it blank.")

Meanwhile, Booker finally had a chance to defend himself on Wednesday at the continuation of the Merit Commission hearings. He remained a gentleman, even though it was largely a "he said, she said" course of events. He declined to call his accusers "liars," preferring to characterize their charges and accounts of incidents as "inaccurate." But the worst act in this sideshow was the cross-examination by the State's Attorney of a true hero, Paul DiVenti, who took the stand to defend Booker, his long-time friend and former partner.

In an attempt to establish a pattern of disobedience to orders and procedures, the State's Attorney dragged out a number of disciplinary actions which had been placed in Booker's file over the past few years, most of which I assume were minor as the sergeant was not asked to read the nature of the infractions. One, however, from 2006, involved an incident with a deputy on his shift.

Booker had recently been promoted to sergeant, and one of his duties was to review daily reports from deputies on his shift. One day the sergeant reviewed a report of DiVenti's. The two of them, according to Booker's testimony, were friends and regularly ribbed each other. Booker returned it to the deputy in a folder and placed on it a Post-It note saying, "Who the f--- trained you?" The deputy left it on his desk, where it was seen by Deputy Sheriff Ditzler, who brought disciplinary action in the form of a letter of reprimand against Booker. Booker said that DiVenti was subsequently interviewed, and having taken no offense to what he considered a joke between friends, the disciplinary action was to have been removed from Booker's file. Booker was surprised to find upon examining his file this year, after the current charges were brought, that the letter was still in his file.

Since then, DiVenti was involved in a very serious accident in the line of duty which rendered him disabled. DiVenti took the stand on Wednesday, in good spirits despite the situation. He spoke slowly, but thoughtfully and deliberately, and he confirmed the details Booker had offered earlier. Then the State's Attorney's Civil Division Chief David Kurlinkus was assigned to cross-examine. Kurlinkus is a rather jovial-looking fellow, vaguely resembling Gabe Kaplan in Welcome Back, Kotter. Before the cross, he was amiably chatting with hearing observers and seemed to be quite the nice guy. But then he had his shot at DiVenti. He started out asking about the events and the nature of his relationship with Booker. Fair enough. He then began questioning DiVenti about his accident, bringing up his serious injuries. Booker's attorney objected on the grounds of relevance. Kurlinkus responded that he was trying to establish that the witness "wasn't fit to express an opinion" due to the result of his injuries. The commission allowed Kurlinkus to continue his questioning. He concluded with asking if DiVenti was taking pain medication, which was confirmed. Damage done.

In my opinion, it was the most despicable attack on a witness that I have ever seen in a courtroom, and I've seen a lot. DiVenti was crestfallen, and if I'm any judge of body language, the commission was not impressed. I was angry, and spent the better part of the rest of the hearing glaring at Kurklinkus, hoping to communicate how utterly repulsed I was by the allegation that this HERO was unqualified to recall who his friends were. Win at all costs.

Then Ditzler took the stand and testified that the disciplinary action was indeed the result of a complaint by DiVenti, despite the officer's own testimony. Again, despicable. Then the commission closed the day's proceedings and went into deliberations yesterday (Thursday).

Last night, both candidates appeared at a debate in Rockton organized by the Northern Illinois Tea Party. Their restraint was commendable, and when asked to comment on his superior, Booker declined to criticize Meyers on his agreement not to engage in negative campaigning. Afterward, the two even shook hands and exchanged greetings. Neither disparaged the other during almost two hours of questioning - it was a marvel. But the dirty bits are still playing out, even while the candidates avoid full frontal attacks in the public forum.

I was just informed that the commission will reconvene at 2:30 today, the Friday before the election. They'll go into private session, then will be expected to announce their decision. I'll post here as soon as I get back.

Update:
The verdict is in. Read about it here.

For a complete history of this race, click this link for a search of the Rockford Register Star. Results are in reverse chronological order.

Guest Column: Birth of the Tea Party by David Hale

Friends and other gentle readers ... I have a meeting to attend today, so I am posting this guest column, complements of David Hale, organizer of the Rockford Tea Party. David has been a tireless worker for the cause and has been in the trenches for several years. This is my way of saying "THANK YOU, DAVID!" On the eve of this very important election, your work is very much appreciated!

The Birth of the Tea Party

By David Hale

The Tea Party started. Yes, there was a rant heard round the world by TV commentator Rick Santelli, little-known outside the financial world, on of all channels CNBC -- one of the hated, reviled media outlets that conservatives had been deriding for years. It’s what made the moment even more glorious and literally revolutionary; that one of their own would turn on them and bite. In that Revolutionary and Glorious moment that shot some sense back into millions of Americans, many in the Tea Party movement had already been stirring in the quiet of their homes, over drinks in bars and on AM Radio stations on every back road across America. The moment was actually a crescendo of years and years of what many people felt was abuse from our Publicly Elected and 4th-rail, self-appointed establishment wannabe media power brokers.

George Bush just happened to be the man against whom we directed all that energy. It only escalated under Barack Obama. It would have happened if it were Hillary. It may have even happened if it were McCain. But it happened to be the eloquently-speaking and very attractive, almost Leave-it-to-Beaver type guy that we came to discover is anything but an All-American, “let’s have a Budwiser over wings” type American. But nobody accedes to that level of power without being smarter than hell and craftier than a Missouri Quilter. That person has to be every identifiable American character, to include the Beave, a Rothschild, a Clinton, a Mr. Smith. Wise as a serpent. Innocent as a dove. He seemed to be. We have come to find he espoused the most radical agenda Americans have yet encountered. Was it by some conspiratorial pre-plan or because this man truly believes in Socialism?

For two years now the media has loved the Tea Party and hated the Tea Party, and a symbiotic relationship drove them both forward. And though the Tea Party would exist without the media, it certainly gained steam because of the media. In fact, the Tea Party never expected the media to pay it this close attention. This is a major reason why the Tea Party has almost as many enemies as it does participants, adding to that old adage that “There is no bad press,” or “All press is good press.”

With people literally marching in the streets, the media was stunned that people who had thus far kept a safe distance from government, calling into radio stations and venting or occupying their Lazy Boy chairs yelling at the TV, would actually have the temerity to challenge the government and put tension on the institutions that are built up to maintain order. To add to their confusion, the people were marching -- not hiding in alleys or merely planting signs in their front yards. They were actually forming like an army in very public places and taking their marches to government seats of power, In-Your-Face fashion. How could they? Only radicals are allowed to do that, rioting on the streets of Seattle, or the streets of Anywhere, USA, or at G8 Summits where gas masks are issued as part of the gift packages that participants receive to stave off the effects of tear gas being lobbed at rioting Anarchists and would-be anti-war protestors.

Those first Tea Parties were anxious days. The buildup the media had done actually backfired. Instead of rioting and looting and destroying as was predicted, we were talking and actually making sense. They expected riots and tear gas and racists running around in white sheets, but what they got was innovative, creative sign-making, fathers and children and pregnant women with their toddlers in baby carriages and baby boomers dressed up like a shot from a scene from Back to the Future in Revolutionary War-Era costumes. The reality was that while the media had built up the Tea Party as a bunch of disgruntled but raving lunatic-fringe racists, we were actually people that closely resembled their parents, their wives and their children. But while that original media narrative lingers, the mud they threw didn’t.

Over and over, the Tea Party has shocked the media and laid waste to their pre-built, fabricated-for-TV perceptions. The Tea Party has thwarted the media’s effort to create perception, becoming a finely tuned grassroots organization that has proven that the American People who make up the Tea Party are much more media-savvy than the media is. Every time people in the media attempted to paint the Tea Party with broad strokes, the Tea Party has washed clean that painted perception. That has happened since day one.

We didn’t riot. We didn’t need masks for tear gas, and we didn’t carry Molotov cocktails. We looked nothing like the left wing rioters that pop up at G8 Summits around the world. We even cleaned up our mess when we left. The media has yet to figure us out and has yet to paint an accurate picture of who we are. That is actually not their fault. They cannot paint that picture because they cannot figure out that we are made up of every kind of people, and every iteration of humanity you can imagine. We are Americans.