‘Stop this insane war?’

Both the Senate and House were prepared to hear the General’s report on the surge against the enemy. The General commanding the troops was ready to deliver details. Was the surge working? Was it a failure? It had been several months since the new war strategy had been implemented.

Before the four star General was able to open his mouth, California Representative Victor Lantos launched into a tirade against the General who had more battle ribbons on his chest than Lantos had teeth.

Earlier, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, who’s only battle experience was beating fellow Democrat Ted Kennedy to a Burger King, announced the surge was a failure.

Finally, the General was able to deliver his long-awaited report by everyone save Congressional Democrats. Senator Hillary Clinton, who’s changed positions more than someone sitting in a dental chair with hemorrhoids, basically called the General a liar. The woman, married to the famous, “I did not have sex with that woman,” former president, certainly has battle experience, but the wrong kind to be questioning a General with a reputation for integrity.

Bottom line, the General reported the surge was working, much to the disappointment to Democrats, especially the radical left, like MoveOn.

WHAT IF?

The General reporting to Congress isn’t David Petraeus. It’s General Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe. Eisenhower is appearing before Congress September 15, 1944, after “the surge” started on D-Day, June 6, 1944. That surge consisted of three million men, 16 million tons of arms and munitions, 5,000 ships, 4,000 landing craft and more than 11,000 planes. That surge led to the end of the European phase of World War II after almost six years. Thank God today’s cheer leaders for retreat, surrender and failure weren’t in Congress then. We would all be speaking Deutsche.

While American soldiers in Europe had to contend with Axis Sally, our men and women in service today have to contend with CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, CNBC, the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, PBS, and the radical left in Hollywood. The people in France, Belgium, Netherlands, etc., had to defend themselves against Nazi collaborators. In the U.S. today we have to contend with a similar enemy; people who put idiotic signs in their yards such as “Stop This Insane War.” Tell that to the terrorists who strap bombs on women and children and behead those who oppose them. If those who oppose the war think bringing the troops home will result in everyone sitting around campfires holding hands and singing Muslim hymns, they’re mistaken.

What a difference between Americans in the 1940’s and today. During World War II 2,000,000 women were working in war industries. We had rationing, Victory gardens and price controls. We didn’t give away information that might be of value to the enemy. We embraced slogans such as “Loose talk costs lives” and “A slip of the lip may sink a ship.”

Today the New York Times prints classified information obtained from traitors working in our State Department and the Pentagon. Broadcast media show video of death and destruction by our military and newspapers print stories critical of our military.

In June, 1942, the Germans landed eight saboteurs on the east coast of the United States. The F.B.I. caught all eight. Six were executed and two were given prison terms after a trial by military court! What a novel and unique idea. Today, when we catch terrorists they become heroes of the media entitled to a public defender and supported by the left-wing media.

What a sad commentary. Read about the fall of the Roman Empire and you’ll note some unfortunate similarities.

WELL-DONE MR. CHAIRMAN

A year ago this month I predicted that Bill Prather would be elected chairman of the Peoria County Board. I also said he would make an excellent chairman, perhaps one of the best ever. Happily, I was right on both predictions. Bill was elected chairman in December and named a bipartisan group of people chairmen. County government has never worked more smoothly, efficiently and cooperatively. Congratulations Bill and board members. Too bad Bill wasn’t named chairman years ago. Some of us tried. Those who opposed him, happily, are gone.

TIME TO ELIMINATE AUDITOR’S OFFICE

One of chairman Prather’s accomplishments was approval for a county chief financial officer. The subject had been previously discussed by other county boards. The healthy economy and strong financial condition of county government made it possible. Hiring of such a person means the office of the county auditor is no longer necessary. Years ago the League of Women Voters even called for elimination of the office. I wonder if they will once again push for ending this unnecessary county department. Don’t hold your breath, though.

Some members of the league say the local organization is run by Democrat activists like Mary Harkrader. Since Carol Van Winkle, the appointed auditor, is a Democrat, I’m sure the league will not jump on the bandwagon. Too bad because elimination would save taxpayers big bucks.

SPEAKING OF MARY…..

Mary Harkrader, the former county clerk who fired City Election executive director Jeanette Mitzelfelt, suffered another defeat. Except for her successful firing of Mizelfelt, Harkrader has accomplished an amazing losing streak.

This time, armed with not one, but two assistant state’s attorneys from Kevin Lyons office, Harkrader appeared before the Unemployment Compensation Referee. After losing two previous attempts to prevent Ms. Mitzelfelt from receiving unemployment benefits after she fired the mother of six children, Harkrader lost again. The Referee told Harkrader that Ms. Mitzelfelt “was not subject to a disqualification of benefits.” Three strikes and you’re out, Mary!

What a waste of time and taxpayer money to, in essence, harass such a wonderful and outstanding woman. And what a bad decision by Judge Richard Grawey, in my opinion, to have appointed Harkrader to the City Election Commission.

In the meantime, Mitzelfelt has been hired at the Peoria Christian Center as the Events and Advance Coordinator. I wish her well.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

There’s been even another change of writers in the Peoria Journal’s “Word on the Street” column. Karen McDonald, a newcomer, has been joined by newcomer John Sharp. Jennifer Davis, considered by some Republicans, a mouthpiece for the local Democrat Party, is gone from the column. Pardon the pun, but no “word” in the “word” about Davis. Don’t look for much change of column policy. The first column by the duo produced a lengthy story and headline about Democrats. So what else is new at the Journal?

THE THOME FAMILY

In an exclusive radio interview on WOAM’s “Breakfast with Royce and Roger,” Chuck Thome, the father of White Sox home run hitter Jim Thome, talked about his son and the Thome family. The focus of the interview was on events before, during and after Jim hit the 500th homer of his sterling baseball career. Chuck Thome talked about who caught the home run and how the fan was persuaded to give up the baseball. Turns out he was actually a Baltimore fan from Austin, Texas, in Chicago on business. Chuck Thome had friends stationed in outfield seats in the hopes of catching the ball. Turns out it wasn’t necessary, but they had fun anyway.

NO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

WOAM canceled plans to air high school football this year. After one game with Peoria Chief play-by-play announcer Nathan Believa, WOAM made the decision to drop other games due to “a lack of community support.” Translated … the station failed to get enough sponsors to pay for the broadcasts. That’s a shame. I can remember the days when at least two stations were doing high school games including WIRL. WIRL featured Ken Brown and Ed Wodka and even had a “Fan in the Stands” segment. WOAM has hopes of doing high school basketball. We sure hope so.

PEORIA CHIEFS END YEAR WITH A GREAT RUN

What a year it was for the Peoria Chiefs! With Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg as manager, the Chiefs set some attendance records and finished tied for first place in the second half of the season. By virtue of some strange point system, the Chiefs didn’t get into the play-offs.

I was told by two different people about a funny incident at a meeting of Peoria Chief stockholders. A well-known local malcontent was complaining about the value of his stock. He reportedly complained that he hadn’t received a single dividend and that his stock wasn’t worth much.

A stockholder with far more invested in the club walked over to the malcontent and said he would buy his stock on the spot. After coughing, the malcontent shut up. Based on what investors tell me, the stock in the Chiefs is worth far more than what it was initially sold for.

Meanwhile, stories continue to circulate about exciting plans for new businesses in and around the ballpark. I hope so. It seems like East Peoria has grabbed the development ball from Peoria with a new Embassy Suites Hotel and many new restaurants across the river.

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

“Why a school named ‘gifted?’

Isn’t every child gifted?

Christopher Monroe, 8 years old

“Democracy will work only until the political incumbents discover they can perpetuate themselves in office by taxing the industrious to bribe the indolent.”

—Thomas Jefferson