A Coalition of the Unwilling

If there was a fly on the wall at the last Waukegan City Council meeting, it was eaten by the canary in the coal-mine. According to the News-Sun ...

An official with New Jersey-based NRG Energy reiterated this week that its Waukegan Generating Station will continue to function as a coal-burning plant indefinitely despite ongoing calls by local environmental groups for the company and the city to publicly detail long-term plans for the lakefront site. More than two dozen members of Clean Power Lake County and the Sierra Club attended last week's City Council meeting to present what they said were more than 2,000 petitions signed by Waukegan residents calling for a task force to study options for plant operation and future land use.
Despite protests, Waukegan power plant to burn coal indefinitely

In related news, Santa Claus released his post-holiday audit. The ledgers show a significant uptick in lumps of coal delivered to stockings in Lake County.

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Now dash away, dash away, dash away all.

Cold Caller

In Waukegan, he will be instantly recognized. He has white hair. He has a white beard. He has been sent out into the cold and goes ring-ring ring-ring ring-ring ring-ring ring-ring.

If you guessed the Salvation Army Santa, give yourself a lump of coal. The correct answer is former Lake County State's Attorney (and a founding member of the Waukegan Emergency Telephone System Board) Michael Waller.

Haha, according to the News-Sun ...

Waukegan Mayor Wayne Motley has announced that former Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller — one of the founding members of the city's Emergency Telephone System Board — will not be reappointed to another term. Both Waller and Motley said this week that the decision was unrelated to criticism Waller has faced in light of several disastrous prosecutions.
Embattled ex-Lake County prosecutor leaves Waukegan's 911 board

It is not known if Waller plans to file a lawsuit against Lake County for wrongful eviction. Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

Godwin's Law

Although today marks the winter solstice, it may already be springtime for Hitler. The international symbol for evil incarnate, Adolf Hitler has been getting a lot of press lately. Even the Daily Herald has jumped on the bandwagon ...

"FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2013 file photo Adolf Hitler, leader of the National Socialists, emerges from the party's Munich headquarters."
Records show Hitler enjoyed special treatment in prison

It should be noted that Mr Hitler has been looking very relaxed in more recent file photos. Small wonder, he commands a comfortable double-digit advantage in all the presidential polls.

Hot Numbers

Who is polling all the Lake County Republicans these days? The News-Sun is on the story ...

"Lake County Republican Federation President Larry Falbe (left) showing County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor and LCRF Executive Committee member Chris Foreman results of the straw poll (Posted by erin0000060, Community Contributor)"
Lake County Republican Federation Announces Results of Presidential Straw Poll

Your LakeCountyEye would be remiss not to note that Lake County Republican Federation President Larry Falbe (left) never looked better. Photographic proof that a December tan, facial scruff and shredded physique are guaranteed to turn any bean counter into the chairman of the board!

Uneasy Marks

James Marter

Under ordinary circumstances, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran would have announced that he will be a candidate for Lake County Coroner. However this election cycle has been anything but ordinary. So yesterday Curran, instead, endorsed US Senator Mark Kirk's opponent in the March Primary. According to the Daily Herald ...

GOP Senate hopeful James Marter of Oswego announced the endorsement by Curran on Tuesday. "Mark Kirk may have spent significant time attending to the needs of the Cook County law enforcement, but has done nothing for the Lake County sheriff's office," Curran said in a statement. The comment drew a swift rebuke from Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, who backs Kirk.
Lake sheriff backs Kirk opponent for U.S. Senate

As of this posting, Mark Curran has not switched his endorsement of James Marter to someone else. But your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.

On the Beat

If a tree fell on the Amstutz Expressway would anyone care? To test the hypothesis, the City of Waukegan shut down the beleaguered freeway last week. According to the News-Sun ...

The Amstutz Expressway in Waukegan is scheduled to be shut down from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday for the filming of a TV commercial, another in a series of temporary closures of the roadway over the years by film productions.
TV commercial shoot will close Amstutz Expressway Monday

Local residents were polled for their reaction, and were asked: "How do you beat the rat race in Waukegan?"

One public servant told the pollster "with a tire iron."

That's all your LakeCountyEye has. Beat it.

The Rain of Terror

Ordinarily the City of Highland Park would be up in arms. But the Supreme Court declined to lift the ban on their assault weapons. The News-Sun says ...

The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal Monday to take up a challenge to Highland Park's ban on assault weapons protects similar restrictions in Chicago and other parts of Illinois and sends a message that municipalities have the right to determine how to best protect their communities, according to legal experts. The lack of action was a blow to the National Rifle Association and other pro-gun advocates who had hoped the high court would issue a ruling that once and for all clarified whether weapons such as AK-47s, AR-15s and Uzis are protected under the Constitution.
Supreme Court rejection of gun case considered a victory by Highland Park

When the issue is a blow of any kind, your LakeCountyEye immediately thinks of Dr. I.M. Bhatschidtkhrazzi, Ordnance Professor at the College of Lake County.

"The Supreme Court just kneecapped their holiday celebration, over in Highland Park." said Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Everyone gathers at Port Clinton Square on New Years to fire their AR-15s."

Your LakeCountyEye was under the impression this was a safety concern.

"Safe for the terrorists, maybe." grimaced Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The word on the street is that Highland Park has been disarmed. I've heard that the terrorists have all the B&B rooms there booked up straight through Valentines Day."

An unwelcome development.

"Ya." agreed Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "Highland Park has become a mecca for the radicals."

Was Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi making like Donald Trump?

"Mr Trump says the Muslims are not welcome here." shot back Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "But he is pandering to the prejudice of his supporters with a gross and inadequate stereotype."

The blaggard.

"Studies show there are specific, well-defined demographic populations who are a clear and present danger to themselves and others. Religious extremists, drug dealers, whack jobs, to name a few. And they all share a common mental disorder. The clinicians classify them as douchebags with guns."

Douchebags?

"Don't be surprised if you're not familiar with the term." explained Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "The latest DSM-5 only recently identified these douchebags as anyone in possession of a weapon who would be hardpressed, if asked, to hold their nose -- let alone a firearm."

Your LakeCountyEye did not know that.

"I agree with Mr Trump that the borders need to be sealed." explained Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi. "But if we are serious about protecting ourselves, then it is the douchebags with guns who need to be kept out."

Your LakeCountyEye felt safer (but not safe) already. Did Dr. Bhatschidtkhrazzi have any parting advice?

"Remind your Operatives that if all our guns get douched, then only douchebags will have guns."

The Peter Roskam Principles: Divide & Conquer

Bonjourno, as they say in Benghazi, Italy. You probably don't know who I am. My name is Peter Roskam, the vestigial Congressman of Lake County. I've agreed to conduct this virtual townhall meeting for the benefit of this blog ... but more importantly this is my opportunity for me -- U.S. Congressman Peter Roskam -- to better get to know, and fraternize with you, my constituents.

Has this ever happened to you? Your hardworking staff works overtime long hours and weekends to ensure that you, Peter Roskam, are safely on the 2016 election ballot:

Candidate List -- GENERAL PRIMARY -- 3/15/2016

Only you wake up that very same day and discover that you, Peter Roskam, have been primaried. And not only that, but primaried by some guy named Gordon Kinzler. Just who is Gordon Kinzler anyways, and why isn't he voting for his Congressman in Washington, Peter Roskam? Staff says he must be some teaparty deadender:

Candidate List -- GENERAL PRIMARY -- 3/15/2016

Now you are probably wondering, why am I -- Peter Roskam, 5-term Congressman, former Chief Deputy Whip and current member of the House Benghazi Committee -- worried about some teaparty deadender who is on the same ballot against a 5-term Congressman, Peter Roskam? Well, the answer in a word is two little words: Eric Cantor. Eric Cantor, you will recall was the 7-term Congressman and House Majority Leader, who got challenged by a teaparty deadender (some guy named Dave Brat) in the 2014 primary. Long story short, I've been told that Mr Cantor currently manages a 24-hour Chipotle in Bethesda.

Well, I informed my staff in no uncertain terms that this would not do. I immediately got on the horn and made some phone calls. And one week later, on the last petition filing day, lo and behold there were three names on that same ballot:

Candidate List -- GENERAL PRIMARY -- 3/15/2016

I, Peter Roskam, will let you in on a little secret.  A wise man -- who was named H.L. Mencken (and not Peter Roskam) -- once said: "No one ever lost an election underestimating the intelligence of the American voter." So when John Q Teaparty-Voter goes to cast his ballot against Peter Roskam next year, he won't know the difference between a Gordon Kinzler and a Gerald Drabik -- or between a Peter Roskam for that matter. This is an example of Peter Roskam's Divide and Conquer principle: divide the opposition vote, and virtually ensure that 5-term Congressman Peter Roskam will be well on his way to being 6-term Congressman Peter Roskam.

This is Peter Roskam reminding you that if you keep true to your principles you will never have to see the insides of a D.C.-area Chipotle.

The Lackey Doth Request Too Much

It is guaranteed by the Illinois Constitution: you have a fundamental right see your candidate for office removed from the ballot. In Lake County, the ballot action is in the 6th Congressional District, where an epic number of candidates (five) have filed:

Candidate List

One sole individual requested the petitions of four of these candidates -- all with the exception of Peter Roskam:

Who is this assiduous requestor? The shutterbugs at the McHenryCountyBlog snapped an old photo of David Rivera in a Roskam for Congress teeshirt:

Although Congressman Peter Roskam was absent, campaign worker David Rivera was there to carry the flag ... or at least wear the tee shirt.
Pro-Life Pig Roast at Irene Napier’s Farm

The US House of Representatives Telephone Directory lists David Rivera as Congressman Peter Roskam's "outreach rep":

US House of Representatives Telephone Directory

... while zoominfo says that Rivera is Roskam's "Outreach Coordinator":

David Rivera | Outreach Coordinator

What does a Congressional Outreach Coordinator do? As far as your LakeCountyEye can tell, he is the guy you turn to when you want to reach out and knock someone off the ballot.

Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised when further developments warrant.