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NATIVITY SCENE RETURNS TO ILLINOIS CAPITOL FOR 9th YEAR

LINCOLN, IL -- The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) is happy to announce its 9th annual celebration on Tuesday, November 29th from 12 Noon until 1 P.M.  The display depicting the birth of Jesus Christ will, once again, stand in the center of the Illinois state capitol Rotunda throughout the Christmas season, next to the Governor’s “Holiday” Tree.

The mission statement of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee is two-fold.  First and foremost is to honor the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  The SNSC’s secondary goal is to inform the media and the public (statewide and nationwide) that this display of religious faith in the public square is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America.  The Nativity scene, representing the birth of Jesus, is legal because it is temporary in nature and is privately-sponsored. 

The Illinois ACLU is again expected to put up a display which states they support the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee’s Constitutional right to erect a Nativity Scene. 

The opening prayer will be led by the Rev. Bernie Lutchman, President of Business Men In Christ of Springfield and an SNSC member.  Music will be provided by The Ferraro & Hogan families of Jacksonville & Springfield. 

Speakers include Thomas Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society & an SNSC member; Fr. Daren J. Zehnle, Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield; State Rep. Tim Butler, Springfield and State Sen. Sam McCann, Springfield.

Directly following the Nativity Scene celebration, first responder Chaplain Steve Holden of Wreaths Across America will honor our military by placing a wreath in front of the flags representing all branches of the U.S. military.  This will be Chaplain Holden's fourth year participating with the SNSC.

The Nativity display can be viewed in the Rotunda, located at 301 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois during regular business hours.  Anyone interested in singing Christmas songs by the Nativity Scene should contact Salli Chernis, Secy. of State's office, Dept. of Physical Services, at 217-782-8996 for permission. NOTE:  Music is limited to the noon hour. 

For more info: 

Julie Zanoza, Chair Woman, SNSC at 217-737-0416 or [email protected]

Thomas Brejcha, Legal Counsel, SNSC at 312-782-1680 

Nativity Scene returns to IL state capitol for SEVENTH straight year

Springfield Nativity Scene Committee to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child

Springfield, IL – At noon on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will unveil its annual display depicting the newborn Christ Child, lying in a manger inside a handcrafted wooden stable. For the seventh year in a row, the crèche will stand in the center of the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, next to the Governor’s “Holiday Tree.” The Capitol building is located at South 2nd Street & East Capitol Avenue in Springfield, IL. From noon until 1 p.m. on December 2nd, the SNSC will host a celebration in honor of the true meaning of Christmas, which is not only a secular “holiday” but is also, more importantly, a Christian holy day honoring the birth of Jesus Christ.

 

The crèche and manger represent a constitutionally protected expression by private citizens, the SNSC, in a traditional public forum, namely, the Capitol Rotunda, where political rallies are routinely held during sessions of the Illinois General Assembly and at other times during the year. This is classic free speech, as well as the right of Americans to exercise religious faith in the public square, where the sole role of the government is that of a viewpoint-neutral gatekeeper assuring open access for all citizens to have their “say.” Government is neither censor nor endorser of such religious speech. Because the SNSC’s Christmas display is privately funded, temporary in nature, and is sponsored, bereft of any government aid or endorsement, it is clothed and armored with the full protection of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and its counterpart in the Illinois Constitution of 1970.

 

The SNSC’s primary goal is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Its secondary mission is to proclaim and demonstrate to the public and media alike (statewide and nationwide) that such private expressions of religious belief in the public squares of our nation are not merely tolerated, but fully deserving of robust legal protection.

 

The December 2nd event is open to the public.  Christmas carols will be sung by the Official Praise Team of the Springfield Baptist Church and led by Music Pastor Brian Morgan. Speakers will include the Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield; and Peter Breen, Vice President & Senior Counsel of the Thomas More Society, Chicago. Mr. Breen is State Representative-Elect for the 48^th district.

 

For the second year in a row, Chaplain Steve Holden of the U.S. Emergency Chaplains Corps (USECC) will lay a Christmas wreath, in honor of the service and sacrifice of America’s military veterans.

 

The Nativity Scene will be on display in the Rotunda during normal business hours starting Dec. 2nd and throughout the Christmas season. Individuals or groups who would like to sing near the Nativity Scene (on weekdays, when the Rotunda is open) can call Salli Chernis of the Sec. of State’s office at (217) 782-8996 for permits. NOTE: Performances are limited to the noon hour.

For more info e-mail [email protected]

or call Tom Brejcha at the Thomas More Society at 312-782-1680

***************

Nativity Scene's 6th consecutive year in IL state Capital

SPRINGFIELD NATIVITY SCENE COMMITTEE

19 S. La Salle St.                          904 21st St.
Suite 603                                       # 71
Chicago, IL 60603                       Lincoln, IL 62656
(312) 782-1680                             (217) 314-0211

NATIVITY SCENE RETURNS TO IL STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA FOR 6TH STRAIGHT YEAR

UNVEILING SET FOR NOON at 12/3/13 IN SPRINGFIELD, IL 

* Illinois 1 of 3 states to erect Nativity Scene in a government building

Springfield, IL – At noon on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will unveil its annual display depicting the newborn Christ Child, lying in a manger inside a handcrafted wooden stable. For the sixth year in a row, the crèche will stand in the center of the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, next to the Governor’s “Holiday Tree.” The Capitol building is located at South 2nd Street & East Capitol Avenue in Springfield, IL. From noon until 1 p.m. on December 3rd, the SNSC will host a celebration in honor of the true meaning of Christmas, which is not only a secular “holiday” but is also, more importantly, a Christian holy day honoring the birth of Jesus Christ.

The crèche and manger represent a constitutionally protected expression by private citizens, the SNSC, in a traditional public forum, namely, the Capitol Rotunda, where political rallies are routinely held during sessions of the Illinois General Assembly and at other times during the year. This is classic free speech, as well as citizens’ free exercise of their religious faith in the public square, where the sole role of the government is that of a viewpoint-neutral gatekeeper assuring open access for all citizens to have their “say.” Government is neither censor nor endorser of such religious speech. Thus, this SNSC Christmas display is privately funded and sponsored, bereft of any government aid or endorsement, and therefore it is clothed and armored with the full protection of the First Amendment of our U.S. Constitution and its counterpart in our Illinois Constitution of 1970.

The SNSC’s primary goal is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. But its secondary mission is to proclaim and demonstrate to the public and to the media alike (statewide and nationwide) that such private expressions of religious belief in the public squares of our nation are not merely tolerated but fully deserving of robust legal protection.

The December 3rd event will be open to the public. An invocation will be given by an SNSC member, Rev. Bernie Lutchman, President of Business Men in Christ (Springfield). Christmas carols will be sung by the Official Praise Team of Springfield Baptist Church and led by Music Pastor Brian Morgan. Speakers include Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois; Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, an SNSC member and legal counsel; Pastor Charlie Carver from South Tower Community Church of Dawson; and SNSC member Beth Rogers of Springfield. Pastor Brian Williams of Broken Chains Church – located 1 block from the Capitol – will present a message about Jesus and hope.

A special highlight of this year’s ceremony will be the laying of a Christmas wreath by Chaplain Steve Holden of US Emergency Chaplains Corps (USECC), as a special and seasonal recognition in honor of the service and sacrifice of America’s military veterans.

The Nativity Scene will be on display in the Rotunda during normal business hours starting on Dec. 3rd and throughout the Christmas season. Any individuals or groups who would like to sing near the Nativity Scene (on weekdays, when the Rotunda is open) can call Salli Chernis of the Sec. of State’s office at (217) 782-8996 for permits. Performances are limited to the noon hour.

* The two other states are Mississippi and Florida.

Hundreds participate in Springfield Nativity Scene Committee’s 5th annual Opening Day Ceremony

Illinois 1 of 2 two states to display a Nativity Scene in State Capitol 

Springfield, IL – On Tuesday, November 27^th, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) held its fifth annual opening day celebration in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda.  In 2008, the SNSC made history when the first ever Nativity Scene was put on display in the Illinois Capitol.  Mississippi also displays a Nativity Scene.

The foremost goal of the SNSC is to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.  The SNSC’s second goal is to inform the public and media that such displays of religious faith in the public square are protected by the U.S. Constitution—as long as these displays are privately-funded, privately-sponsored and temporary in nature.  Individuals and groups in many towns and cities across America are trying to remove all mention of God.  Many retailers prohibit their employees from saying “Merry Christmas”.  The Christmas tree is now commonly referred to as the “Holiday tree”. 

The hour-long ceremony began with a Christmas carol led by Bill Lewis, worship leader at Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln who was accompanied by Alice Morris, JJ Simpson and Judyta Sobczak.  Jefferson Street Christian Church members played a number of traditional Christmas songs for those gathered.

The opening invocation was given by Rev. Bernie Lutchman, President of Business Men In Christ (Springfield) and an SNSC member.

Speakers included Rev. Peter C. Harman, Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield); Pastor Charlie Carver from South Tower Community Church of Dawson; Pastor Rick Giovannetti, Standing in the Word Ministries and an Illinois Family Institute Board Member; and Kevin Edward White, Esq., Board member of the Thomas More Society.

Due to the fall veto session, the Rotunda was filled with hundreds of people who took part in the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, by listening to the speakers and singing along with other participants.  There were many folks who watched from the upper balconies in the Rotunda.

Tom Brejcha, Esq., President and Chief Counsel of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society (TMS) and legal counsel for the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee could not attend due to the many court cases TMS is working on.  Mr. Brejcha made a brief appearance on the O’Reilly Factor on Tuesday evening and was on MSNBC’s Martin Bashir Show on Nov. 29^th “to discuss the religious liberty battle against those who want to take ‘Christ’ out of Christmas.”

SNSC member Beth Rogers of Springfield addressed those attending the “unveiling” ceremony.  She reminded everyone that Christmas is a federal holiday, and that Christ is the reason for the season.  Mrs. Rogers also spoke about a local newspaper from Petersburg, which, in years past, had devoted their entire front page to Christmas.   

Rick Rogers (Beth Rogers’ husband), presented flowers to Julie Zanoza, SNSC’s chair near the end of the event which was dedicated to Mrs. Zanoza’s husband, the late Daniel T. Zanoza, who was the founder and first chair of the SNSC.  The Rogers also presented flowers to SNSC member Helen-Zanoza Stacey, (Julie Zanoza’s sister in law, and sister of Daniel Zanoza).  The Nov. 27^th celebration of the birth of the Christ Child in the Capitol Rotunda coincided with what would have been Daniel’s 59^th birthday.

The crèche and manger will be on view until December 27^th, during normal business hours.  Groups and individuals who would like to sing near the Nativity Scene are encouraged to contact Salli Chernis of Sec. of State Jesse White’s office for permission at (217) 782-8996.  Note:  Music is only allowed during the noon hour.

For more info on the SNSC contact Julie Zanoza at [email protected]

For more info on the Thomas More Society, or to contact Mr. Tom Brejcha for an interview, please call (312) 782-1680. 

5th Annual Nativity Scene in Springfield, Illinois

Illinois one of two states to erect a Nativity Scene in state capitol

Nativity Scene Returns to Illinois State Capitol Rotunda for 5^th year

 

SPRINGFIELD--On Tuesday Nov. 27th, 2012, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will again erect a display depicting the birth of the Christ Child.  For the fifth year in a row, the crèche will stand in the center of the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda (next to the Governor’s “holiday tree”) located at South 2nd Street & East Capitol Avenue in Springfield, Illinois.

 

The SNSC will hold its celebration from 12 Noon until 1 P.M.  The event is open to the public.  An invocation will be given by the Rev. Bernie Lutchman, President of Business Men In Christ (Springfield) and an SNSC member.   Christmas carols will be led by Bill Lewis, worship leader at Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, and accompanied by JJ Simpson and Judyta Sobczak.

 

Speakers include Rev. Peter C. Harman, Rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield); Pastor Charlie Carver from South Tower Community Church of Dawson; Pastor Rick Giovannetti, Standing in the Word Ministries and an Illinois Family Institute Board Member; and Kevin Edward White, Board member of the Thomas More Society.

 

SNSC members, Tom Brejcha, SNSC’s legal counsel, and President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society; and Beth Rogers of Springfield will also address those attending the “unveiling” ceremony.   

 

In 2008, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee made history when Sec. of State Jesse White's office granted the SNSC a permit, allowing a Nativity Scene to go on display in the Capitol for the first time in state history. 

 

The crèche and manger scene will stand in the Illinois Rotunda, in accordance with the U.S. Constitution which allows us to express our Christian faith in the public square--as long as these displays are privately-funded and temporary in nature.  Currently, Illinois and Mississippi are the only states in America who display Nativity scenes in their state capitols.   

 

The SNSC's primary goal is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.  The SNSC’s secondary mission is to inform the media and public (statewide and nationwide) regarding the constitutionality of such expressions of religious faith in the public square.  

 

The Nativity scene will be on display in the Rotunda during normal business hours from November 27th throughout the Christmas season.  Any individuals or groups who would like to sing near the Nativity scene (on weekdays, when the Rotunda is open) can call Salli Chernis of the Sec. of State’s office at (217) 782-8996 for permission.  It must be noted singing in the Illinois Rotunda is limited to performing only during the noon hour.

 

This year’s celebration is being dedicated to the memory of Daniel. T. Zanoza, the SNSC’s Founder and first Chair, who was born into Eternity on January 6th of 2011.  Mr. Zanoza’s earthly birthday was Nov. 27th which coincides with the fifth annual “Springfield Nativity Scene under the Rotunda”.

 

For more info, please contact Julie Zanoza, SNSC Chair, at [email protected]

Nativity Scene Returns to IL Capitol For Fifth Year

Fifth Annual Springfield Nativity Scene Committee's "Opening Day Ceremony" Nov. 27th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  --  October 16, 2012

SPRINGFIELD—On Tuesday, November 27th, 2012, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will again host a display depicting the birth of Jesus Christ.  For the fifth year in a row, the crèche will stand in the center of the State Capitol Rotunda, located at South 2nd Street & East Capitol Avenue in Springfield, Illinois.

The SNSC will hold a ceremony from 12 Noon until 1 P.M. on Tuesday, November 27^th, 2012.  An invocation will be given by the Rev. Bernie Lutchman, SNSC member and President of Business Men In Christ (Springfield).  Bill Lewis, worship leader at Jefferson Street Christian Church (Lincoln), will lead the worship team with traditional Christmas carols.

Scheduled to speak are Julie Zanoza, SNSC chair, Lincoln; Tom Brejcha, President and Chief Counsel, Thomas More Society; Pastor Rick Giovannetti, Standing in the Word Ministries, Illinois Family Institute Board Member; Beth Rogers, SNSC member, Springfield; Pastor Charlie Carver of South Tower Community Church in Dawson; and a Representative of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield.

The SNSC's primary goal is to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  A secondary mission of the group is to inform the public and media that expressions of religious faith in the public square are Constitutional.  The SNSC’s hope is other private groups across the nation will place similar scenes depicting the birth of Jesus in their town squares and state capitols.

In 2008, the SNSC made history when the Illinois Sec. of State's office granted a permit to the group, allowing a Nativity Scene to go on display in the Capitol for the first time.  Illinois and Mississippi are the only states in America that erect Nativity scenes in their capitols.  The crèche and manger scenes are protected by the U.S. Constitution, as long as such displays are privately-sponsored and temporary in nature. 

The Nativity scene will be on display from November 27th through December 28th.  The Capitol Rotunda is accessible during normal business hours.  Groups are encouraged to sing carols near the Nativity scene (from 12 Noon until 1 P.M.) throughout the Christmas season.  A permit is required.  Those interested, should contact Salli Chernis with Sec. of State Jesse White's office, Department of Physical Services / Division of Special Events at 217-782-8996.

For more information, please e-mail inqueries to:  [email protected] 

 

Nativity Scene Returns to IL State Capitol for 4th year

4th Annual Springfield Nativity Scene Returns to IL Capitol Rotunda

On Tuesday, November 29th, 2011, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will hold its fourth annual “opening day” ceremony from 11:30 a.m. to 1p.m. in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, 301 S. 2nd St., Springfield, IL (corner of 2nd St. and Capitol Ave.), where their privately sponsored and funded Nativity Scene will be put on display for the 4th straight year, right next to the Governor’s “holiday tree.” Musicians and singers from iWorship Center in Springfield will be featured. The event is open to the public.

 

Most Rev. Thomas Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield’s Roman Catholic Diocese, will address those gathered in the Rotunda to celebrate and bear renewed witness to the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Tom Brejcha, Esq., president and chief counsel of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, a member of the SNSC and its legal counsel, will briefly explain the constitutional rights of private citizens to erect Nativity Scenes as a form of free speech and free exercise of religion in America’s “public square”. Other SNSC members scheduled to speak include Beth Rogers of Springfield, pro-family activist; Dave Smith, Executive Director of the Illinois Family Institute; and Arlene Sawicki, a pro-family activist from South Barrington.

 

The SNSC is encouraging those who would like to sing Christmas carols in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda at the site of the Nativity Scene to contact Salli Chernis at the Secretary of State’s office, Dept. of Special Events at (217) 782-8996 for permission to do so. Choirs and/or groups may perform on weekdays from 12 noon until 1 p.m. The Thomas More Society will provide free legal help, if any is needed, at (312) 782-1680, to any individual or group of private citizens interested in putting up a similar Nativity Scene – privately sponsored and funded – in any “traditional public forum” in their own town, village or hamlet in Illinois or elsewhere, whether it’s for this year (if time permits) or for next year.

 

“To our knowledge, Illinois is the only state in the country to celebrate the birth of Jesus with a Nativity Scene in a State Capitol Building,” said Julie Zanoza, the new chair of the SNSC who took over the role this year after her husband, Daniel T. Zanoza, founder and first chairman of the Springfield (IL) Nativity Scene Committee, was born into Eternity on January 6th, 2011. “Dan always said ‘this Nativity Scene will stand in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda long after we (SNSC) are gone to our Heavenly reward’.” The crèche display, consisting of marble-like figures of the Baby Jesus, Mary and, Joseph, will be on view in the Rotunda throughout the Christmas Season.

 

For more info contact [email protected]

or call the Thomas More Society at 312-782-1680

 

Springfield Nativity Scene Committee Members:
Thomas Brejcha, Esq., Chicago-based Thomas More Society
Karl Fritz, Chicago
Pastor Dustin Fulton, Lincoln
Daniel J. Gura, Lake Zurich
State Senator Chris Lauzen, Aurora (acting as a private citizen)
Rev. Bernie Lutchman, Business Men In Christ, Springfield
Sr. Christine M. Moskal, C.R., Chicago-based Thomas More Society
Beth Rogers, Springfield
Arlene Sawicki, South Barrington
David E. Smith, Illinois Family Institute, Carol Stream
Helene S. Zanoza-Stacey, Lincoln
Julie Zanoza, Chair, Lincoln

Dan Zanoza, Born into Eternity on January 6, 2011

 

In honor of my beloved husband, Danny

By Julie Cleary Zanoza

Daniel T. Zanoza

Born into Life on November 27, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois

Born into Eternity on January 6, 2011

A special Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. to celebrate Dan’s life.  The church is located at 15050 Wolf Road in Orland Park, Illinois.

A service was held in Lincoln, Illinois at Jefferson Street Christian Church (our church) last Saturday, February 5th, 2011.

Danny and I have been together since our first date on February 8, 1974.  We were married at the Four Square Gospel Church in Chicago Ridge on November 20, 1982.  And yes, if you do the math, we went out for over eight years before we got married.  But once we realized we were living in sin, I moved out ‘til we got married.  Dan said his only regret is that we did not get married sooner.  By the way, his best man asked what his duties were and we said one is to decorate the car.  People always would ask us, “when are you two going to get married?”, So I told Jimmy, his best man, you should put “Finally Married” – instead of “Just Married” and that’s what the sign read!  

Feb. 8, 2011 marks the anniversary of our first date 37 years ago.  Quite honestly, I was feeling so sad, I was sobbing...but not for long because two awesome things happened today!  Which I'll get to.

I believe Dan's most important project was coordinating a Nativity Scene in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda (where our elected officials meet).  Last year was the THIRD consecutive year the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee, Chaired by Dan Zanoza, erected and displayed a Nativity Scene (the only one to stand in a state capitol in the country) honoring the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Dan said, on more than one occasion, that the Springfield Nativity Scene would stand long after we were all gone to our reward in Heaven. 

Therefore, in honor of Dan Zanoza, my beloved husband and best friend, today on the 37th anniversary of our first date, I called the Secretary of State's office (who issues permits for the SNSC) this morning, shortly after they opened, first to thank Salli Chernis for her call and condolence card, but she was not in, a co-worker (Gabby) told me Salli's brother-in-law had passed away.  But I requested an application for a permit to erect the FOURTH annual Nativity Scene for 2011 and it's in the mail now! 

By the way, Jim Finnegan was the person who urged Dan to get a Nativity Scene in the state capitol when we moved to Lincoln.  Jim is connected with the "God Squad" which is responsible for the life-sized Nativity Scene which goes on display each year in downtown Chicago in the Daley Civic Center Plaza.

Illinois State Senator Chris Lauzen of Aurora, a pro-life warrior and a very humble, Godly man introduced Senate Resolution 34 today in the Illinois State Senate to honor Dan’s life and work!  When we spoke last week, Sen. Lauzen had told me he had planned to introduce the resolution at that time, but the legislators were not in session last week because of the blizzard.  Dan is probably shaking his head in Heaven right now, saying, “Why the big deal?  I only did what the Lord led me to do.  My ministry was to serve the Lord and if I saved just one child’s life from an abortionist, my life was worthwhile.”

I am so happy that these two "things" happened on the date of the 37th anniversary of our first date!  Again, I was feeling extremely sad today...but now I'm not!  Praise God!  He lifted my spirits.  February 8th will never be a sad day for me, but a joyous one! 

Incidentally, Sen. Lauzen is a member of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC).  And thanks to Tom Brejcha of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society (TMS) Pro-Life Law Center the Nativity scene became a reality in 2008.  Tom Brejcha is also the SNSC's legal counsel.

Danny was a pro-life warrior for almost two decades.  He considered his work a ministry, including writing for RFFM.org (as its founder and director) and other organizations, including the Illinois Family Institute, Illinois Leader, City News USA, and CleanTV.com.  His writings have been posted on Canada Free Press, many newspapers, magazines, Ann Coulter's blog, Greta Van Susteren's blog, etc.  A college text book even printed an example of Dan's work, well, technically, to be totally accurate, I should say Dan's writings with the Lord's help...which included Christlike messages.

Danny and I always prayed before writing, he never had training as a journalist, but he didn't need training, Dan had God to help him!  And whenever he received a compliment on one of his articles or columns, he would always say, “Thank you, but all the credit and glory goes to the Lord.” 

Danny was not perfect.  In fact, many times he said, “I’m not perfect, far from it; the only perfect person was JESUS”.  Can I get an AMEN?  AMEN!!!  

Dan also would say “God answers our prayers in one of four ways:  Yes, No, Not Now or Not your way.”  The obvious implication for the latter (Not your way) is the Lord has better solutions than we as humans (made in His likeness) to our “problems”. 

Those of you who knew Danny personally, knew he liked to joke around…when appropriate.    He’d be the first to admit he was not good at telling a joke, but he still liked kidding around.

Many of you know Dan became totally blind in 2006.  Yet this did not slow him down as far as his ministry.  There were times he would write a column--after he became totally blind--on paper, for me to type and edit later…because he had so much to say on issues of religious freedom, gun rights and more.  I couldn't keep up with him!

I have to confess, I am NOT a good housekeeper, far from it, and, obviously, out of necessity, since I could only cook breakfast items or something simple, like a grilled cheese sandwich or hamburger, Dan taught me how to cook.  The reason I mention this is because Dan as a totally blind person (with not even light recognition) would wash and wax the car, vacuum, dust, clean windows, sort laundry and much, much more.

Dan did a lot of the prep work for cooking.  He would take a whole chicken, clean it, cut it into pieces and bread it.  Next, he would put the oil in the frying pan and say, “Okay Jules, now it’s your turn because I can’t tell how high the flame is.  He would use the timer on the talking watch he received from blind services, to time the food and tell me when to flip it, put it in the oven, etc.  Dan could use the microwave on his own (by using raised dots we put on it, the stove and dryer.  Once I came home from doing some grocery shopping and he had made and cooked meat loaf—from scratch--using a recipe one of our neighbors (Patricia) gave us! 

Another time, while I was posting a column and e-mailing it out, my new BFF, Jayne, came over and I didn’t realize Dan was making macaroni and cheese and she said “Dan, be careful.”  When I would tell some women all Dan did as a totally blind person, they would say, "Wow!  My husband can see and he doesn't help me with the housework."

Let me digress for a moment.  Danny and I always prayed for guidance from the Lord in our lives.  

God the Father, always knows what’s best for us.  Danny said the best thing that came from the loss of his eyesight was the fact that he reconciled with his sister, Helen.  Dan also said it’s a good thing his Mother, Sophie, passed away when she did because it would have broke her heart to see her son go blind.

So, let me repeat, things happen in life because the Lord knows what’s best for us…after all, He knew all of us in the womb…indeed, He knew us before any of our parents met and, for that matter, thousands of years before any of us were born. 

While in the hospital, Dan was joking with Jim Hostetter--our best friend from Lincoln and fellow Jeff Street Christian Church member--and he asked Dan if he knew he was terminal and Dan replied, “Yes.”  

My beloved Dan told another good friend, Northern Dan (Gura), aka Also Dan [who has a great sense of humor, albeit not always politically correct--which I believe is a good thing], “the next person I SEE will be Jesus.”  By the way, Northern Dan called my beloved Dan “Southern Dan”…even though we live in Central Illinois and if you don’t get the fact this is a joke, you’re not from the Chicago area. 

By the way, one beautiful summer day Dan and I were sitting on our porch with Jim and Brenda Hostetter and they asked if we had any family in the area.  When we replied “no” Brenda said “consider us your family.”  We both wept with tears of joy!  Well, I could write a book to tell you how much Jim and Brenda have done for us (and so many others in Lincoln) over the years, but I won’t.  In fact, I could write a number of books to relate so many things, but I’m not a writer.  I'm an editor, although you won't be able to tell after reading my words here.  

The greatest compliment Dan ever received as a person was:  “You must be a Christian.”  And he got that compliment because actions speak louder than words. 

As a writer, the greatest compliment Dan ever received: “If Dan Zanoza said it, it must be true!” 

A Chicago Tribune reporter once called Dan “the Matt Drudge of Illinois politics.”  But actually, even though my beloved husband and best friend of 37 years often wrote about political issues, he did not like the political side or aspect of it.

Dan wrote on many topics related to the pro-family agenda, including the rights of the innocent unborn and end of life issues and we posted many articles on end of life issues written by Bill Beckman (Illinois Right to Life Committee) on hospice care, palliative care, living wills and more. 

Of course, I miss Danny very, very much and will always love him.  But I take great comfort in knowing I will join him—some day, according to God's perfect timing. 

Right now, I’m taking things one day at a time.  I’m praying for the Lord’s guidance and, as always, my prayers are “According to God's will”.  Dan said how sad it must be for those who do not believe in God and do not have the hope of eternal life in Heaven that we as believers have.

Danny will be missed by many, but his memory, including his serious and comedic sides will live on forever with his family, my family, our many friends, neighbors, church family and fellow pro-life/pro-family warriors.  And thanks to technology, Dan's writings will be out there in Cyberspace...for who knows how long…except, of course, the Lord.

Thanks to everyone who prayed, sent cards, notes, helped Dan and me in so many ways…before we knew Dan was terminal and after he joined God the Father, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  They are too numerous to mention (and thank) and I would not want to leave even one person out because no matter how you helped us both out, you will never truly know how much it was (and is) deeply appreciated.  We are truly blessed.  I even received cards from people I did not know, but they had read Dan's articles from our website/blog, RFFM.org.  I truly have been overwhelmed and blessed. 

I must thank my sister, Ann and her husband Tommy Greybill, my brothers Jeremiah and Jimmy Cleary, my niece Michelle Greybill, Dan's sister (my sister-in-law) Helen Stacey and her husband Hank, our "Busia" Arlene Sawicki, Pastor Dustin Fulton (another SNSC member) and our Jeff St. Church family, Dr.Tonimarie Vincent and Tom Brejcha (who, among others, including Bobby Shindler [Terry Schiavo's brother] helped me keep Dan out of hospice care).  God bless the Rev.Lainie Dowell (for her counsel) and Dr. Laurie Roth!  Also, thank you to Bill Beckman; and Mary Anne Hackett of Catholic Citizens of Illinois.  God bless the Rev. Bernie Lutchman, Dan’s Bible study buddies (Business Men In Christ of Springfield), Henry and Ida Johnson of Jeff St. Church.  Wow!  This thank you list can be longer than the column.   

Thanks to some great people at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln and St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, including volunteers.  Well, I guess that’s enough, I’m sure you (and anyone who reads this) will forgive me if I don’t mention you.  David Curtin, former head of the Illinois Christian Coalition, who is now in a seminary studying for the priesthood, once told us “edit ‘til it hurts.”  But, in this case, I feel it would hurt more to edit, if you catch my drift…no pun intended, especially after last week’s blizzard.

Did I thank David Smith, of the Illinois Family Institute? If not, thanks, Dave!  And thanks to IFI's Bruce Tincknell.  Also, thanks to Bernie Schoenburg of the Springfield State Journal-Register, and thanks toTony Cameron, Mike Pawlecki...Thanks to Jean Cohoon...you probably don't realize how much you helped me.

To Bob Wood, thank you!  God, as always, put you (and others) in our lives exactly when we needed you...because God is so good.

And an extra special thanks and God bless you to Beth and Rick Rogers, who spent time with Dan in the hospital on Christmas Day because I woke up to 5.5 inches of snow in Lincoln and could not be in Springfield with Dan.  I know God was with Dan at all times, but Dan also had two God-fearing, God-loving friends with him on the day we celebrate Christ's birth.  Beth is a member of the SNSC; Beth played her guitar and sang a song during the “Celebration of Dan Zanoza's Life” service in Lincoln with Bill Lewis, the musical director at Jeff St. Church.  Thanks, Bill! 

Thanks to our Pastor Dustin Fulton (another SNSC member), the ladies who helped prepare the dinner at Jeff St. Christian Church in Lincoln and those who donated food and their precious time.  Thanks to Everett Crowell, also of Jeff St.

I better stop with all the thank you's or I'll be typing 'til Judgement Day, thanking almost everyone Dan and I know...including so many of our neighbors, the Hart's, Barger's, Betty Sims, the Mileham's, etc. who helped us...before and after Dan went to his Heavenly reward.  And thanks to the friends from our old neighborhood in Crestwood, like Bill and Sandy, Chris and Larry...   

I hope I don't offend those I did not mention here who helped both Dan and myself.  In fact, I had this posted and realized I left out some special people.  I almost used the word "important", but God reminded me we are all special in His eyes.

And to all the mighty prayer warriors who prayed for Dan’s healing…thank you!  Danny received the ultimate healing!  Alleluia!

May God bless all of you greatly!

Danny, you are now MY angel!   I will always cherish our love, memories (both good and bad, as all married couples have) and almost 37 years together!  I know we will meet again in Heaven.  Danny, I love you and miss you very, very much!  Your earthly ministry is now over and I will wait to see what ministry the Lord has in mind for me.  Maybe He has many ministries in mind for me.  But I know the Lord will let me know what to do and when. 

From your loving wife, who has inheritied your same sense of humor.  I am so blessed the Lord introduced us.  Thank you, Lord!  And one day, I, too, will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and join you...again, according to God's perfect timing.

Danny, I will always love you!  

Julie

P.S.  To be continued at a later date, God willing!  

By the way, I'm praying, according to God's will, for the "conversion" of central Illinois residents, most, if not all, who are not Chicago White Sox fans!  But, like Dan said, "no one's perfect"!  And like I said to "Northern Dan" Gura, after the last Super Bowl, “I hoped God had the game blocked out in Heaven so Dan couldn’t SEE the Packers beat the Steelers.”  By the way, my Mother-in-law was from Pittsburgh; and Dan and his Mom watched the Chicago Bears every Sunday, unless they were on Monday Night Football!  

Hey, Dan, love of my life...Super Bowl Shuffle!  "...I'm Momma's boy Otis, the ladies all love me for my body and my mind." :)   If you saw that video, you'll understand the smiley face.  It's something Dan and I laughed about not long before he went in the hospital. 

Wow, some editor I am...but how can I edit words out which came from my heart (and the Lord) about my husband, a man I spent almost 37 years with?  And how can I edit out all the thank you's?  

Thank you, Jesus, for blessing me and Dan so much.  But most of all, thank you, Heavenly Father, for what your Son Jesus suffered for us, in order that we may have eternal salvation!  Read John 3:16

Bill Brady's Loss To Pat Quinn: Note To Fiscal Conservatives: Fiscal and Social Issues Are Related And Do Matter

by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director

After State Sen. Bill Brady lost the Illinois gubernatorial race to Pat Quinn, it was no surprise to me.  If the election was close enough, the Daley Democratic Machine would find some way to make sure Quinn had the votes to hand him the election.

I am 56 years old and I lived in Chicago for the first 50 years of my life.  I remember how the presidential election was stolen from Richard Nixon in 1960.  As usual, late returns from Cook County put John F. Kennedy over the top in what was one of the closest elections in our nation's history, up until that point.  In fact, did you ever notice that when an election is close, the last votes to be counted are from Cook County?  This is not an accident, in my opinion.  Therefore, it's not a coincidence that absentee ballots are the last to be tabulated in Chicago because the Democrats need to know how many votes it will take them to win. 

In fact, it is no longer conjecture whether the 1960 election was stolen by the Democratic political apparatus in Chicago and Cook County.  Deals were made with the Mob by Joe Kennedy, the then-patriarch of the Kennedy clan.  Louisiana, one of the three most corrupt states in America (along with Illinois and New Jersey) also played a part in the theft of a presidency in 1960 and the rest, as they say, is history.

This year it was reported Bill Brady won every county in Illinois, except for three.  Out of millions of votes cast in the state, Brady ended up losing by a mere few thousands votes.

I wrote a column (see related article below) which, essentially, said Brady possibly lost the election because he did not energize the pro-family base of the Republican Party.  But I no longer believe this is true.  Every socially conservative Republican knew Brady was better on the issues they cared about than Pat Quinn.  I believe it was the fiscal wing of the GOP which, in far too many instances, saw Brady as a tax and spend Republican.  In fact, this past summer, I attended a banquet for a public policy group and outside there were individuals who were handing out anti-Brady flyers.  They were calling Brady the "Tax Villain of the Month" and depicted Brady behind bars.  When I questioned members of the group, National Taxpayers United, I was told the degrading and doctored photograph on their hand-outs was simply meant to encourage Brady to sign their group's pledge stating, if elected, Brady would not sign any legislation which would raise taxes.

What I have learned after nearly 20 years of following Illinois politics is that there is a chasm between social and fiscal Republicans which often leads to the demise of good GOP candidates.  Fiscal Republicans refuse to make any connection between social and fiscal issues.  But one of the reasons America is in such dire financial straits is due to the fact that fiscal policies led to the demise of the American family.  In the 1960's, Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" actually created many of the social problems now facing America.

Minorities and poor people were encouraged to depend on government largesse.  Johnson's "Great Society" created a welfare state where parents were rewarded for not getting married and having children out of wedlock.  The more children a mother had, the more she received from the government, i.e., rent subsidies, financial assistance and food stamps.  The group hardest hit by these programs was the African-American community which previously had stable families where both parents took part in raising their children.  The government actually made sure fathers stayed away by checking homes to make sure the mother was on her own and not receiving any assistance from the father.  Today, the number of children born out of wedlock in the black community is over 70%.  But President Johnson's "Great Society" also bled over into other races, including poor whites, where today over 40% of children live in single-parent households.

But none of this took place in a vacuum that only affected poor blacks, whites and other groups.  Johnson's policies had a negative impact on American society over all.  Latch-key children became the norm.  Radical liberal women's rights organizations, like NOW (National Organization for Women), actually advanced the premise women could have it all.  Being a stay at home mom became a bad thing, according to these groups, because simply raising children was not enough to fulfill their lives.  There were perfume ads which touted how a woman could "bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan..."   But there was only one catch to Johnson's "Great Society" which cost American taxpayers $5 trillion before the turn of the 21st century.  And with the dependence on government, came higher taxation which eventually made it impossible for a family to survive on one income alone.

In the 1950's and 60's, my father worked and my mother stayed at home.  She did not feel unfulfilled as a woman, as was the case with a vast majority of women who were mothers in American society at that time.  My father's income was more than enough to support our family.  We did not live in a palatial home, but there was always food on the table, money to pay the bills and then some.

Today, there is a reluctance by fiscal conservatives to recognize that big government and high taxation are inexorably connected with the social ills which plague our nation.  I heard from some of these fiscal conservatives who blamed Brady's loss on his pro-family voting record, saying the state Senator from Bloomington did not pay enough attention to fiscal matters.  Some even compared him to his Democratic opponent, Pat Quinn, who after elected, stated he had a mandate from the electorate to raise taxes on Illinois residents.  This monolithic thinking has driven a wedge between those of us who care deeply about social issues and those who only care about money.  I'll never forget one individual who said that whenever he's around a candidate who's labeled as a compassionate conservative he puts his hand on his wallet.

However, the facts regarding the downfall of American society are clear.  According to FBI statistics, most crimes committed by young people take place in between the hours when school lets out and their parent(s) get home from work.  America's juvenile justice system is overloaded, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.  The impact of drugs and pornography have arrested the social development skills of children who end up being adults who are not equipped with the psychological tools to function productively in our culture. 

Abortion has devalued life on both ends of the spectrum...from the innocent unborn to the elderly who are now looked upon as a drain on society and the fiscal bottom line.  Children are abused and, sometimes murdered, often by their own parents.  Sex abuse and other forms of psychological and physical abuse leave millions of children scarred for life.  These children become adults who end up abusing their children and the cycle continues.

Here is an example of how fiscal conservatives are out of touch regarding the issue of same-sex "marriage."  If homosexual "marriage" becomes the law of the land, the financial cost will surely doom the Social Security system because survivor benefits will have to be paid same-sex partners or, more accurately, "husbands of husbands" or "wives of wives".  Yet we rarely hear fiscal conservatives addressing this issue.  They spend more time complaining that Social Security was not meant to be a retirement program than they do quantifying the cost to Social Security if same-sex "marriage" becomes the law of the land.  This is a myopic view and many fiscal conservatives just don't get it.

Another example is school vouchers.  The best way to stop the cycle of poverty is by providing poor children with a good education.  But many fiscal conservatives vehemently oppose school vouchers and inner-city children of all races are locked into an educational system which leaves them lacking in the skills needed to live a productive life and become taxpayers themselves.  In many cities, the school drop-out rate is over 50%.  This has led to young people joining street gangs, committing crimes and costing our legal system many more billions of dollars.

In a perfect world, the cost of social ills in America would be considered in the argument which advances fiscal responsibility.  Unfortunately, this is not the case and we are left with a society spinning out of control and Americans are left with a huge bill, both in a human sense and monetarily.

What's the answer in Illinois?  Many politicians believe the expansion of gambling will cure the state's financial woes.  At the same time, they deny the human cost of gambling addiction which devastates the addicted individual, his or her family and society.  There is no candidate who everyone will agree with on every issue.  But there are individuals and organizations who insist that a person running for office agree with them on just their issue alone.  If they do not do so, they become the enemy, as was the case with the hand-out targeting Brady from the single-issue group, National Taxpayers United.  Yet the Republican Party does have a political platform in Illinois and nationally and Bill Brady's voting record adhered to that platform.  Abraham Lincoln, one of our greatest Presidents, and one of the founders of the GOP, said, "you can't please all the people all the time."  But literally, the Devil is in the details and there are those who, apparently, seem willing to sacrifice the greater good. 

Hopefully, one day we'll see a breakdown of how Brady lost his gubernatorial bid.  In fact, I wish Brady would have called for a recount, especially in the three counties where he lost and specifically Cook County.  But the election is over.  Brady conceded and we are left with the same corrupt political system called "The Chicago Way".  Vote early, vote often, where even the dead vote.

RELATED ARTICLE:

Bill Brady's Loss To Pat Quinn: Was The Illinois Gubernatorial Election Stolen? Or Did Failure To Adequately Energize Pro-Family Conservative Base Play A Role In His Defeat?  Posted on 11/08/10 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/11/bill-bradys-loss-to-pat-quinn-was-the-illinois-gubernatorial-election-stolen-or-did-failure-to-adequ.html

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact:  [email protected]

NOTE:  Comments to RFFM.org's blog which include ad hominems or personal attack will automatically be rejected.  Hyperlinks allowed at discretion of RFFM.org's editor.

Springfield Nativity Scene Committee Invites Choirs To Perform In Illinois Capitol During Christmas Season

SNSC & Thomas More Society Encourage Choirs To Perform Near Nativity Scene in Illinois Rotunda

by Judy Cleary, staff writer

For the third year in a row, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will sponsor a crèche that will stand in the Illinois state capitol Rotunda building this Christmas season.  The Chicago-based Thomas More Society (TMS) www.thomasmoresociety.org has underwritten the Nativity scene project since its inception in 2008.  Tom Brejcha, a member of the SNSC and its legal counsel, is president of the Thomas More Society.  Both Daniel Zanoza, Chairman of the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee; and Tom Brejcha would like to invite any groups or churches who have choirs to perform in the state capitol Rotunda during the month of December near the Nativity scene display.

"It would be wonderful if other groups and churches who have choirs would take the opportunity to perform in what is truly a beautiful setting," said Zanoza.  "The historic back drop of the state capitol, combined with the spirit of the season, truly makes for a wonderful experience.  Therefore, the SNSC and TMS would like to encourage other choirs who might be interested in performing in the state capitol after November 30th to take the opportunity to do so." 

The Springfield Nativity Scene will again stand in the center of the Illinois Rotunda.  An opening day ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 30th from 12 Noon until 1 P.M.  The public is invited to attend the festivities.  The combined choirs of St. Alexander Catholic Church of Villa Park will perform Christmas carols during the hour-long program.

"It's not a hard process for those interested in having their own 'ceremony' in the state capitol," said Brejcha.  "All that's needed is a permit from the Secretary of State's office.  Churches or choir directors can contact the Sec. of State's office directly, in order to obtain the necessary permit."

Last year, the SNSC's opening day festivities drew a standing room only crowd to the Illinois state capitol where those present sang along with the Joyful Senior Singers + Ringers from the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur. 

The primary reason the SNSC sponsors a Nativity scene is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and America's Judeo-Christian heritage.  The crèche also demonstrates the expression of religious faith in the public square is still alive and well in America.  The Springfield state capitol Nativity scene is constitutional because it is privately funded and temporary in nature.

It must be noted that musical segments of any event held in the capitol Rotunda can only take place between 12 Noon and 1 P.M. 

For more information for those interested in obtaining their own permit to put together a musical program to be performed by the Nativity scene, e-mail the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee at [email protected] or call Sec. of State Jesse White's office at 1-800-252-8980 and ask for the Special Events Department. 

For those interested in making a contribution to support the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee, please go to: http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/08/nativity-scene-to-stand-for-third-year-in-a-row-in-illinois-state-capitol-.html

RELATED ARTICLES:

For Immediate Release: Third Annual Nativity Scene To Stand In Illinois State Capitol [posted October 18, 2010] at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/10/for-immediate-release-third-annual-nativity-scene-to-stand-in-illinois-state-capitol.html

Nativity Scene To Stand For Third Year In A Row in Illinois State Capitol [posted August 25, 2010] http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/08/nativity-scene-to-stand-for-third-year-in-a-row-in-illinois-state-capitol-.html

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact:  [email protected]

NOTE: Comments to RFFM.org's blog which include ad hominems or personal attack will automatically be rejected.  Hyperlinks will be considered at the discretion of RFFM.org's managing editor.   

Bill Brady's Loss To Pat Quinn: Was The Illinois Gubernatorial Election Stolen? Or Did Failure To Adequately Energize Pro-Family Conservative Base Play A Role In His Defeat?

Did Voters Chose To Continue Democratic Legacy Of Corruption In Illinois?  Or Did Brady Lose Because He Did Not Distinguish Himself From His Democratic Foe? 

by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director

Let me preface this column by saying I voted for Bill Brady for Governor.  I am the Republican Committeeman for Lincoln West 4 in Logan County.  I distributed literature regarding the Brady campaign, including yard signs, etc.  I know the State Senator from Bloomington personally.  Brady had an excellent pro-family voting record in the Illinois State Senate. 

Brady recently conceded victory to incumbent Governor Pat Quinn.  One of Quinn's first public comments essentially said his election proved he had a mandate from the electorate to raise taxes in Illinois.  Of course, this is absurd and the results from most elections nationwide demonstrated the American people rejected the premise of the high taxation, big government model advanced by the Democratic Party en masse.

But I'd like to address why I believe Brady lost to Quinn.  To be brutally honest, I am perplexed why Brady made little or no attempt to court and energize the Republican Party's conservative political base during most of his gubernatorial campaign.  Those included in the GOP's social and fiscal conservative base are individuals, leaders of organizations and politicians who support the state and national Republican Party platforms.  Just a few of the issues included in the Illinois GOP platform are support for the right to life, support for traditional marriage, support of the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment (which clearly states Americans have the right to bear arms) and opposition to big government, higher taxation and all the trappings of liberalism which, if adhered to, distinguish Republicans from Democrats.

On February 15th, 2010, shortly after Brady was officially declared the winner of the GOP gubernatorial primary, Rich Miller of Capitol Fax, who is also a syndicated columnist, wrote a piece which, in essence, suggested Brady downplay his pro-family voting record and run his campaign as a moderate.  I responded to Miller's column by stating Brady needed to stand by his excellent conservative voting record in the Illinois State Senate, but it seems my advice to Brady lost out to Mr. Miller's counsel (see related articles below).

Many Americans are not aware that governorships are probably the most important elected office in the land.  Governors control state patronage, they drive the political agenda advanced by their parties, even though state legislators are responsible for writing legislation.  In actuality, when it comes to the every day lives of state residents, governors wield much more power than members of the U.S. Senate, by approving or vetoing legislation passed by a state legislature.  Governors control a slew of state agencies and their influence on presidential races is something that cannot be underestimated.  Governors control a political apparatus that is matched by no other office, other than the presidency.  Also, probably most important is the fact governors will play a huge role in redrawing the boundaries for districts of State Senators and State Representatives.  It's called gerrymandering, a form of boundary redistricting in which electoral districts (constituency boundaries) are intentionally modified for electoral purposes which create districts which follow no rhyme or reason. 

Governor Quinn now will have the power to ensure some districts stay Democratic and take away the political power of those who reside in districts which usually vote Republican.  Frankly, gerrymandering is an obscene practice that should be outlawed, no matter which Party holds the governorship.  But it is what it is and, for the next ten years, it will be harder for Republicans to defeat Democrats and the legislation they support.

Brady's primary victory was a total surprise to the combine which includes some of the Republican establishment and the Daley Democratic Machine.  Brady's victory over State Senator Kirk Dillard; former GOP Chairman Andy McKenna; and former Attorney General Jim Ryan took the Republican establishment by total surprise and, although a great deal of money was pumped into Brady's gubernatorial campaign by the Republican Party, the message that was being sent to Illinois voters gave the impression Brady was just another Republican in name only.  The strategy was simple, but I believe dooming.

The Republican Party's conservative base, especially in northern Illinois, was not made aware that the State Senator from Bloomington was pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and a staunch defender of the right to bear arms.  In fact, after the primary, those running Brady's campaign seemed to go out of their way to downplay Brady's pro-family voting record.  Therefore, this resulted in a Republican base that was hardly energized, to say the least.

One of the problems, outside of central Illinois, was hundreds of thousands of pro-family leaning Illinois voters knew little or nothing about Brady, besides the fact he was a Republican.  Many of these are people who hold fast to traditional values and they work hard and often only learn about a candidate by watching television ads.  Few have the time to research a candidate's voting record.  And, believe it or not, not everyone uses the Internet, especially elderly voters.  Those of us who follow politics closely live in a political bubble.  The assumption is everyone knows about the record of respective candidates regarding issues they care about and nothing could be further from the truth.

But months into Brady's gubernatorial campaign, I started hearing from pro-family leaders and activists who were wondering why Brady seemed to be running away from the issues they cared about.

The straw that may have broke the camel's back is when a reporter recently asked Brady if he would march in a "gay" pride parade and Brady responded by saying, "it depends".  Brady later attempted to undo the damage resulting from that remark.  However, the damage was done and his comment went viral over the Internet.

I know Brady would never march in a Chicago "gay" pride parade where homosexual men on floats perform sexual acts--some simulated, some real.  The parade is noted for its violations of public obscenity statutes and the Chicago police stand by and do nothing about it.  After Brady's comment, reliable sources told me his campaign was deluged by phone calls from pro-family activists and the general public who were wondering why Brady would make such a statement. 

An early indication that some social and fiscal conservatives were not going to enthusiastically support Brady in the general election began when I started receiving e-mails and phone calls from conservative Republicans shortly after Brady's primary victory who were not happy with some of Brady's positions on illegal immigration.  Also, there were a considerable number of Republican voters who were committed to the passage of SB600, a bill that would have given more power to Republican voters by taking some of the decision-making over the election of party officials out of the hands of a few GOP insiders.  Brady changed his stance on SB600 and fell in line with the Republican establishment who opposed SB600, thereby alienating a significant number of conservatives who supported the Senate Bill.  Therefore, from the beginning, there were many conservative party activists who had a problem with Brady. 

But Brady's apparent move to the political center in his general election campaign was buoyed by polling which sometimes indicated he had a double digit lead over Pat Quinn.  Therefore, whether Brady was running to the political center on his own or taking the advice of the Republican political establishment, it seemed the strategy was working.

I sent one of many e-mails to Brady himself and some of his closest political consultants warning that Pat Quinn and the Daley Democratic Machine were not going to roll over and play dead in the general election for governor when so much was at stake.  I advised the Brady campaign that if the Democrats could not win the election outright, they would find a way to steal it from Brady and the 10 point lead in the polls meant relatively nothing.

If Brady had made a greater attempt to woo his conservative base, some believe he would have ran away with the election.  Even some of his most staunch supporters from downstate Illinois, including an influential pro-life leader, told me Brady had nothing on his web site regarding his position on abortion or other issues social conservatives care deeply about, but this individual told me he was still going to cast his vote for the State Senator from Bloomington.  However, even he was questioning whether Brady, if elected, would govern as his past record indicated or as the centrist he was being portrayed as during the run up to the general election.  But it appears we will never find out the answer to that question.

Did a significant number of Republicans stay home because they were disenchanted with Mark Kirk, who was at the head of the Illinois GOP ticket?  Kirk's voting record in Congress reflected the views of a radical liberal, abandoning the Republican Party platforms (state and national) at every turn.  Kirk voted for Cap and Trade, but after he received much criticism for that vote, he claimed if he could have a do over, he would have voted against Cap and Trade.  Kirk was included in a small group of Republicans and Democrats who voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion which was overwhelmingly passed.  Kirk has a terrible rating with Second Amendment rights supporters.  And his voting record is as far left as you can get.  He is truly what people call a Republican In Name Only.  I could go on and on about Kirk, yet he was elected to the U.S. Senate by Illinois voters.

I believe those in the Republican Party leadership intentionally downplayed Brady's conservative credentials, in the attempt to make Mark Kirk more palatable to Illinois voters.  Some are already alleging that Brady's pro-family voting record was the reason he lost, even though Brady had the endorsement of nearly every major newspaper in the state of Illinois.

I fervently believe you should run a campaign, according to who you are, not according to what others want you to be.  We will never know what could have happened if Brady had run just one ad, saying, "I'm pro-life; I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman; and I support the right of Illinois citizens to bear arms."  According to polling, these are all positions which are supported by a majority of the American people.  Yet members of the state and national Republican Party are convinced those who make their pro-family views clear and known to the electorate are doomed to lose general elections.  This is contrary to the historical model.  Everyone knew Ronald Reagan was pro-life and a steadfast social conservative.  And George W. Bush, well known as a pro-family conservative, won two presidential elections.  In fact, the last time a Republican candidate at the top of the Illinois GOP ticket won a statewide election was in 1998 when Peter Fitzgerald defeated incumbent Carol Moseley-Braun in a race for the U.S. Senate.  Fitzgerald was as pro-family as you can get and ran his campaign as a pro-family candidate.  But Fitzgerald received virtually no support from state Party leaders and he had to spend millions of dollars of his personal wealth to run a viable campaign.  Oh, let's not forget George Ryan who ran as a pro-family candidate and became Governor in 1998.  After elected, one of the first thing he did as Governor was veto an important piece of pro-life legislation and after doing so went on to say anyone who believed promises he made during his campaign was, essentially a fool.  Ryan was definitely a member of the Republican establishment and we will all know where Ryan is now...in jail.

There is this myth that pro-family conservatives should run away from their political legacies, in order to obtain victory.  This myth has never been validated in Illinois and perhaps that is why we end up electing people like Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn.  Judy Baar Topinka's gubernatorial bid failed miserably, but not one Republican Party leader cited the reason for her loss was due to the fact she was too liberal.  Yet GOP leaders are quick to point out when a social conservative loses.

Here's a decision that has to be made by the Republican Party leadership in Illinois:  Either change the Illinois Republican Party platform--which would go against the Party's national platform and the rising tide of conservatism that is sweeping the nation--or abide by both the state and national Republican Party platforms and fully support candidates who do, with no strings attached.

If you look at the current electoral gubernatorial map of the United States, especially in the Midwest, Illinois now sticks out like a sore thumb.  Republicans won the governor's races in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.  Why did we lose in Illinois?  Republican candidates nearly swept Democrats out of office, except in corrupt-ridden states like ours.

I could be totally wrong.  Brady might have lost the governor's race, no matter how he ran his campaign.  But I do know this:  The Republican elite in Illinois believes pro-family candidates are a drag on the GOP.  They will use Kirk's election to try to prove that fact.  I also do not know whether Brady decided to downplay his conservative credentials on his own and hope that the Republican tsunami would lift all boats, no matter how he ran.  There is also the possibility Party heads demanded that Brady run his campaign by bringing as little attention as possible to the fact he is pro-life, pro-traditional marriage and pro-Second Amendment.  Only the Brady campaign knows these facts.  But the truth is, Brady lost when he shouldn't have.  In fact, many believe if any Republican should have lost in Illinois, it should have been Mark Kirk, not Bill Brady.

The biggest losers in all of this are the people of Illinois.  Pat Quinn will raise taxes, he just told so.  Businesses will continue to flee the state because of high taxation and more government regulations.  And a man who would have made an outstanding governor is now on the outside, looking in.  There are individuals far more intelligent than I who will be analyzing Brady's loss in the months to come.  I don't know whether we will ever receive an honest answer to the questions I posed above.

RELATED ARTICLES:

Capitol Fax: Rich Miller's Advice To Sen. Bill Brady, Interesting: And Here's My Advice To Both (posted February 15, 2010)
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/02/capitol-fax-rich-millers-advice-to-sen-bill-brady-interesting-and-heres-my-advice-to-both.html

Open Letter to Rich Miller of Capitol Fax: Apology to Miller's Interns Included (posted February 16, 2010)
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/02/open-letter-to-rich-miller-of-capitol-fax-apology-to-millers-interns-included.html

Bill Brady for Illinois Governor: Advice To Take Pro-Family Vote For Granted Flawed:  Election Will Depend on Strong Support From Social Conservatives by Daniel T. Zanoza (posted May 14, 2010)  http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/05/bill-brady-for-illinois-governor-advice-to-take-profamily-vote-for-granted-flawed.html
 
Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact:  [email protected]

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Hospice Care Horror Stories: Anecdotal Accounts Of How America's Health Care System Often Hastens Death, According To the Fiscal Bottom Line

Sarah Palin's Warnings About Death Panels Way Behind The Curve

Some Health Care Providers Are Literal Purveyors of Death

Note from Daniel T. Zanoza, Founder & Executive Director, RFFM.org:  
 
Approximately two years ago, I became aware of other right to life concerns, including what is taking place in America's health care system regarding end of life issues.  I wrote a story for the Illinois Family Institute, titled "Hospice, Living Wills, Futile Care: Hospice, Hospitals & Nursing Homes Have License To Kill" which was posted on October 5th, 2010 http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=35036. 

I also submitted my column to Canada Free Press (CFP), an influential Internet blog for which I am a frequent contributor.  My column is posted on CFP at this link:  http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/28481 

My piece related the story of how the culture of death has permeated America's health care system.  The death panels former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin warned us about regarding what was included in President Barack Obama's health care reform law have actually been in place and are entrenched in the delivery of health care services for the elderly and all Americans whose health care may now be dependent on solely economic issues.  I wrote about how some hospitals, nursing homes and hospice care providers now hasten death for those who may be a drain on the fiscal bottom line. 

However, in my story I made it clear that not all health care facilities are bad. 

The purpose of the column was to inform the public of the dangers in a system which is quickly evolving into death factories where patients become victims, along with their loved ones, who are left with guilt and remorse.

In 20 years of writing articles and columns, I have learned the most effective means to communicate and educate the public is by sharing personal experiences...whether mine or others.  Thankfully, there were those who responded to the above mentioned column and were willing to make their very personal and often tragic experiences public regarding the treatment of their loved ones by a medical system they trusted.

The comments below are not from people with an agenda.  Indeed, it had to be very hard for them to relive and relate their experiences.  Some of these stories literally brought me to tears.  However, I'll let their words speak for themselves. 

******

The following comment is from Christina Bowen and is included in my column "Hospice, Living Wills, Futile Care: Hospice, Hospitals & Nursing Homes Have License To Kill".

I honestly believe with all my heart that if Hospice had not been in charge of my mother's care, that she would still be alive today. My mom was 70 years old and had cancer. We are well aware that this is a terminal disease, yet she was no where near the end of her life.

My mom had bone cancer in both of her upper legs. She was in a wheel chair so it was hard for her to travel. She was also on bottled oxygen. After several months of consideration she decided not to take any more chemotherapy or radiation. The only thing she needed was something to control her pain, because the cancer was not going to go away. On September the first, I took her to see her oncologist for the last time. They decided together that Hospice could provide her with the care she needed from here on out. On that day my mom was of sound mind and doing well. We left the doctor's office and went out to dinner together.

The next day the Hospice nurses came to the house for an evaluation. They took control over all of mom's medications and instructed us not to call 911 in case of an emergency. Everything from here on out was to be determined by the Hospice physician. They immediately increased her fentynol patch from 50mcg to 100mcg. They increased her oral pain medicine from 30mg of oxycodone to 100-120mg oxycodone per day.

The changes started immediately. At first she seemed to be "high". She was sleepier than normal, kind of nodding out all the time. Started being confused, loss of appetite, and had trouble swallowing. We called the Hospice nurses and reported the side effects. My sister and I were convinced that she was receiving too much pain medicine and that she might even overdose from it. They insisted that it was just a part of the final stages of life. Even though no one ever came to the house to check her out.

As time went by the side effects worsened. She started having trouble breathing, sweating, and even hallucinations. She finally went into a coma. We were on the phone with Hospice constantly trying to seek help for our mom. We knew that she was being overdosed, but again was told that it was a normal part of the death cycle.

On Sept. the 8th Hospice finally showed up at the house. Mom was in a coma and unable to take her medicines. They insisted that she was just in her final stages of life and the morphine had nothing to do with what we were seeing. They said she must continue to take her morphine, so they went to the pharmacy and ordered a liquid form to be administered. She died later that evening.

I know cancer kills people. I know that my mom was going to eventually lose her battle and die, too. But I also know that she was not there yet. She was just in pain, she wasn't dying. So in a time span of 5-6 days, our mom went from being an independent, strong willed woman, to a child like infant, and then finally just gone.

I blame myself for allowing this to happen. Looking back I know I could have done something to have prevented this. I should have followed my instincts and removed the patch, stopped the oral drugs, and took her to the hospital against their instructions. But I didn't. I let them kill my mom.

So, for anyone reading this, I beg you to please, please, think long and hard about signing a loved one up for Hospice. And make sure that you are ready to say goodbye when you do.

Christina Bowen

******

Comments to Canada Free Press

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/28481

http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/site/comments/hospice-living-wills-futile-care-hospice-hospitals-nursing-homes-have-licen/
 
We had an experience that ended somewhat differently.  My mother fell and was sent to a hospital.  While I wasn't there, she was released to a care center, (we still don't understand how that happened).  Without our knowledge she was placed on many drugs. We watched her decline rapidly while each day she demanded she be allowed to go home.  During this time she developed partial paralysis on one side leading us to conclude she had a stroke.  This was not diagnosed by the doctors.

We were finally able to box them in.  Some years before, she had, in writing through her lawyer, made me responsible for her care if she were ever unable to make her own decisions.  In a meeting with management, we made the point that she wanted to go home.  If she was competent to make that decision, they should obey her demand and release her.  If she wasn't competent, I had the legal responsibility to decide her care and my decision was to let her go home.  They argued for over an hour why she needed to stay and I had to threaten legal action before they finally gave in.

She has been home now for years and caring for her is a struggle, but we believe the alternative results would have been obvious and rapid.  She stopped all drugs after coming home and gradually got better.  She will never be the same but now she makes her own decisions on what care she will accept, (even in her nineties, she has a powerful will).  We know we have her for a limited time but we chose the will of the "patient" and life over the "experts".  As Christians, how could we have chosen any other path?
Posted by rt  on  10/07  at  09:00 PM

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We, as a nation, have been gradually indoctrinated with the various concepts that lead to death.  Whether it is with abortion or end of life issues - cost vs. benefit, we are being led down a road that has no light at the end.  There are proponents of ridding society of individuals who do not carry their own weight and contribute to society to a level that makes them worth keeping.

We have a right to "life".  It is a gift from God.  When we accept that the determination as to when our life should end should be made by someone else, we give into whatever their agenda might be.
Posted by Mike Foil  on  10/07  at  07:39 PM

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My heart goes out to Ms. Bowen.  Something similar happened to my father.  He had prostate cancer which had spread to his bones.  After being fried from the radiation etc., he too was in pain, but still quite lucid.  He was always a strong man physically and mentally with a heart of gold.  I watched hospice turn this wonderful, witty, beautiful man into a vegetable in a matter of days. He became combative and hallucinated and after a short time his personality was unrecognizable.  The father we had loved was no more.  We took him to the hospital and he died a few hours later.  I remember something my father said to us when he opened the box of drugs hospice gave us with the Oxycodone, etc. in it, "like opening Pandora's box huh?"  How right he was!  I too felt there was something I should or shouldn't have done, that it was my fault.  I realize that God has the final say and we can only do the best we can with what there is to work with.  If we were all doctors, we might stand a better chance of saving our families and make sure that the utmost will be done for them.  Ms. Bowen, like many of us, relied on the medical profession to help her mother.  How very scary things are becoming, huh!  Thank you for this article and the information!
Posted by j  on  10/07  at  03:32 PM

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Has anyone noticed the number of times people are blaming the baby boomers for our current situation?  Could this be deliberate, so that when the time comes, our children and grandchildren will feel no guilt as we are dumped in the nearest home and forgotten?  They are no longer taught to respect the elderly, they are taught the elderly are stealing from them and destroying their future.  Could it be the baby boomers were cheated and lied to?  Are they to be held responsible when they paid into Social Security their entire working lives, only to have it looted by a crooked Congress?  Yes, the boomers were conned.  Yes, they made the mistake of working hard so their children wouldn't have to.  They were horribly scammed by a Ponzi or Madoff government.

The end goal is to make the youth despise boomers.  Until this changes and the children of this nation are taught to love and respect their elders, the sick and disabled and to realize they were fooled, just like everyone else, there is no hope for change.  Life is no longer a gift, it has become a cost ratio and a burden.
Posted by PJPony  on  10/07  at  07:29 AM

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I worked in the healthcare field for over 35 years and know for a fact that this goes on with hospice.  I have seen it over and over again.  But, I do know there are families who grow tired of caring for sick elderly parents and just wants the end to come . I also know from personal experience that I would not except any part of hospice care.  My husband was real sick 4 years ago and went from 190 pounds to 125 pounds in a few months while in the hospital. When the time came for his discharge they wanted him placed in a nursing home under hospice care.  I told them no.  The doctor got mad and hung up the phone on me.  To make a long story short my husband is doing great now.  Has gained weight and is able to care for himself.  He has enjoyed 4 years of life that he would not have had if I had placed him under hospice care.
Posted by Norma Hughes  on  10/07  at  06:50 AM

RELATED ARTICLES:

Some Hospice Care Providers Enforcing State-Sanctioned Euthanasia Through Illinois Probate Courts by Daniel T. Zanoza posted on August 13, 2010
at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/08/some-hospice-care-providers-enforcing-state-sanctioned-euthanasia-through-probate-courts.html
 

The following series of columns related to end of life issues were posted on RFFM.org in 2008 and written by:

Bill Beckman, Executive Director, Illinois Right to Life Committee:  http://www.illinoisrighttolife.org

Stephen Bloom, a Christian Attorney at Law and an expert on living wills http://www.istherealawyerinthechurch.com/ and 

Daniel Zanoza, Executive Director, RFFM.org 

Part I The Myth Of Living Wills:  You Are Actually Signing Your Life Away by Bill Beckman posted August 11, 2008 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/the-myth-of-living-wills.html
 
 
Part II How a Living Will can bring about your premature death by Bill Beckman posted on August 12, 2008 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/how-a-living-will-can-bring-about-your-premature-death.html 
 
 
Part III Futile Care--Knowing What It Is May Save Your Life Or The Life Of A Loved One by Bill Beckman posted August 13, 2008 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/part-iii-futile-care--knowing-what-it-is-may-save-your-life-or-the-life-of-a-loved-one.html
 
 
Part IV Research on "brain dead" and "almost dead" patients declared "ethical" by Bill Beckman posted August 14, 2008 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/part-iv-research-on-brain-dead-and-almost-dead-patients-declared-ethical.html
 
 
Part V Choose Hospice Care Provider Carefully: Using Hospice Care To Hasten Death Declared "Ethical" by Bill Beckman posted August 15, 2008 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/part-v-choose-hospice-care-provider-carefully-using-hospice-care-to-hasten-death-declared-ethical.html
 
Part VI Some Hospice Care Providers Hasten Death Through Use Of Morphine Overdoses + Other Means? by Bill Beckman posted on August 16, 2008 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/part-vi-some-hospice-care-providers-hasten-death.html
 
 
Part VII Culture Of Death Taking Toll On Those Nearing Life's End:  Overview -- by Daniel T. Zanoza posted on August 17, 2008 at
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/part-vii-culture-of-death-taking-toll-on-those-nearing-lifes-end.html
 
 
"Living Will" Becomes a License to Kill: The Horror Goes On In 2008 by Bill Beckman posted on August 18, 2008 at http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/living-will-becomes-a-license-to-kill.html
 
 
Living Wills: Signing Your Own Death Warrant? A Christian Lawyer’s Perspective by Stephen Bloom posted on August 19, 2008 at
http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2008/08/living-wills-signing-your-own-death-warrant-a-christian-lawyers-perspective.html

******

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Social Security Recipients Denied Cost Of Living Adjustment Again For 2011

Obama Makes Tough Budget Cuts On Backs Of Social Security Recipients  

  

by Daniel T. Zanoza, Executive Director

 

It seems President Barack Obama has decided to demonstrate fiscal restraint, but his turn towards less federal spending has come at the expense of Social Security recipients in 2010 and, as recently announced, in 2011.

 

Those who receive Social Security benefits will not receive a Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) in their monthly checks for the second year in a row.  According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whose data is compiled under the auspices of the U.S. Dept. of Labor, there has been no inflation during the past two years.  Subsequently, with no inflation, according to the CPI, senior citizens, the disabled, the temporarily disabled, widows, widowers and their dependents will have to survive on the same level of Social Security income they have been receiving since 2009.

 

There are those who will claim the CPI is a trusted independent source which gauges inflation in America.  However, Hilda L. Solis, the Secretary of the Dept. of Labor is a political appointee.  Subsequently, the federal agency responds to the whims of the Obama administration.  With the U.S. deficit and accumulated debt soaring into the trillions of dollars under Obama's presidency, he has decided to make some tough cuts in spending.  Unfortunately, while Obama's spending spree continues, he has become fiscally conservative, but only when it comes to the federal government's obligation to Social Security recipients.  With the "hope and change" President's $500 billion projected cuts in Medicare over the next ten years, which is included in the Health Care Reform law, Obama has further targeted those with the least political clout by continuing the COLA freeze.

 

A ten year old child will tell you the price of candy has gone up since 2009.  And every American who has to operate under a budget fully comprehends that the money it took to buy three bags of groceries in 2009 now will only buy two.  The cost of energy has gone up, including gasoline prices which, in many parts of the country, average over $3 per gallon.  But most experts agree that gasoline prices will skyrocket after the midterm elections. 

 

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico should have increased fuel prices dramatically.  However, through the skillful manipulation of oil supplies, the Obama White House has kept a lid on the cost of gasoline at the fuel pump.  In the past, a stiff wind or a small fire at a refinery would send gasoline prices through the roof immediately.  But with the election looming and with Democrat's heads already on the political chopping block, a spike in energy costs would have further doomed Obama's political party and something had to be done.  Anyone who believes that gasoline prices were not artificially manipulated is either naive or drinking a very powerful Kool-Aid cocktail.

 

However, perhaps the group hit hardest with the continued COLA freeze are those seniors and survivors with dependents whose rent, property taxes, education expenses, etc. go up every year (like all Americans) but they are locked into the fixed income they receive from Social Security.  Yet what's good for the goose, apparently, is not good for the gander.  In 2009, Congress voted themselves a healthy pay increase to keep pace with the cost of living.  They also voted themselves a very substantial increase in their yearly entertainment budget which amount, on an individual basis, would dwarf the average annual payments received by Social Security recipients.  Expect the lame duck session of Congress to give themselves another healthy pay raise, after the November 2nd election.

 

It is clear Obama and the Democratic Party have written off the votes of seniors and the disabled.  But Republicans can assume some of the blame themselves by not raising hell fire over the COLA freeze and other financial hits being taken by those who receive Social Security benefits and Medicare.  Let's remember, even with the flood of baby boomers who are now approaching retirement age, Social Security would have been totally solvent--if the politicians in Washington, D.C. had left the Social Security trust fund off budget.  There should have been more than enough money in the Social Security trust fund to keep the program solvent for many years.  However, when Congress raided the trust fund decades ago and replaced the revenue therein with an I.O.U., the funding problems began and the system was doomed to eventual fiscal insolvency.

 

Yes, I know, many younger Americans believe they will never see a dime of what they are paying into the Social Security system as it is now formulated when they retire.  This is probably an accurate assessment.  Less than a half century ago, those paying into Social Security outnumbered recipients by 13 to 1.  Today that figure is quickly approaching three to one and the money simply will not be there as Social Security is now formulated.  Again, there is no money in the Social Security trust fund.  And talk about a lock box is nothing more than political subterfuge used to mislead the American public.

 

Yet there are millions of Americans who have been paying into the Social Security system for as long as half a century.  We are not simply talking about the poor.  Those impacted by Obama's financial policies include the middle class which may be the hardest hit during this President's attempt to redistribute wealth.  Obama never meant to increase the standard of living of America's poor, contrary to what many believed he was saying during his presidential campaign.  Obama's plan from the beginning was to bring down the standard of living of all Americans to more closely mirror the economic status of the world, including Third World countries.  Eventually, there will be the elite--which will include Obama and the political ruling class.  The rest of us will, essentially, be serfs, akin to the fixed social strata of the Middle Ages...where the American dream was just that...a dream.

 

Hopefully, in less than two weeks, Obama's plan for America's economic destruction will be temporarily derailed.  In the mean time, any senior citizen who votes for a Democrat and Republicans who have made politics a profession rather than a service to their country deserves what they get...which won't be much.

 

And here's some more bad news for those who are dependent on Social Security:  Expect the COLA freeze to continue through at least 2012.

 

Okay, let's all remember what we are being told by the Democratic majority.  There is no inflation, America's economy is on the rebound and Obama's stimulus package created millions of shovel-ready jobs.  But the operative question here is:  Just what was the American public shoveled?

 

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, there is a Tooth Fairy and the check is in the mail.

 

 

Related Articles:

 

Social Security COLA: Congress Gets Pay Raise, Seniors & Others Did Not by Daniel T. Zanoza

http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/01/social-security-cola-congress-gets-pay-raise-seniors-others-did-not.html posted Jan. 22, 2010

 

Obama Promised Social Security Recipients $250 To Offset COLA Freeze: Where Is It? by Daniel T. Zanoza

http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2010/06/obama-promised-social-security-recipients-250-to-offset-cola-freeze-where-is-it.html posted June 4, 2010

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact:  [email protected]

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Illinois Family Institute's Family, Faith & Freedom Banquet Oct. 26th: Hear Oliver North + Help IFI Fight The Good Fight

EDITOR'S NOTE:  There are just a few short days left to purchase tickets to attend the Illinois Family Institute's "Family, Faith and Freedom Banquet" featuring Colonel Oliver North on October 26th.  North, who is a combat veteran and served a number of tours in Viet Nam, is a FOX News Channel contributor and hosts the popular series "War Stories with Oliver North" http://www.foxnews.com/warstories/.

  

Col. North is a true American hero in every sense of the word.  North continues his support of our military men and women who stand vigil in their efforts to preserve and promote freedom across the world. 

  

However, attending IFI's fall banquet, means much, much more.  The Illinois Family Institute is one of the most influential pro-family organizations in the state and its work on behalf of the pro-family cause is a guiding light for those of us who believe the United States still represents what President Ronald Reagan referred to as "that shining city on a hill".

 

The Illinois Family Institute's support of traditional marriage and battle against the legalization of medical marijuana are just two reasons why pro-family activists and Illinois residents who care deeply about the future of our state and nation should attend.

  

Contrary to the views of some, patriotism is not a dirty word.  North's appearance at the Illinois Family Institute's Family, Faith and Freedom Banquet is not only a "can't miss" event for veterans, but it is a "can't miss" event for all of us who love God and country. 

 

Below is information on a rare opportunity to see and hear the words of a man who has honored his country in countless ways.  It is also an opportunity to support an organization that is truly doing God's work.

 

 

Illinois Family Institute Fall Banquet

 

Rosemont Crowne Plaza on Tuesday, October 26th at 6:30 P.M.

Tickets are $100 each and table sponsorships are available.

 

Tickets will not be sold at the door.

 

Register today for great fellowship, a great speaker and to support the pro-family work of Illinois Family Institute!

 

Last chance to order tickets...

Call IFI's office at (708) 781-9328

Illinois Family Institute
P.O. Box 88848
Carol Stream, Illinois 60188

 

Phone: (708) 781-9328
Fax: (708) 781-9376

 

*********

 

Anyone wishing to receive RFFM.org e-mails should contact:  [email protected]  

For Immediate Release: Third Annual Nativity Scene To Stand In Illinois State Capitol

Springfield Nativity Scene Committee

 

904 21st St., # 71, Lincoln, IL 62656

(217) 314-0211

[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 18, 2010

Third Annual Nativity Scene To Stand In Illinois State Capitol Rotunda Building

SPRINGFIELD--On November 30th, 2010, the Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will again host a display depicting the birth of Jesus Christ.  For the third year in a row, the crèche will stand in the center of the State Capitol Rotunda Building located at South 2nd Street & East Capitol Avenue in Springfield, Illinois.

In 2008, the SNSC made history when the Sec. of State's office granted a permit to the group, allowing a Nativity Scene to go on display in the Capitol for the first time in state history.  The exhibit is the only such display to stand in a state capitol across the entire United States.  The crèche and manger scene will stand in the Illinois Rotunda, in accordance with the U.S. Constitution which provides for such religious expression in the public square--as long as such displays are privately-funded and temporary in nature. 

The SNSC's primary goal is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  A secondary mission of the group is to inform the public regarding the constitutionality of such expressions of faith in the public square.

The Chicago-based Thomas More Society will, once again, provide financial and legal support for the SNSC.

The Nativity Scene will be officially unveiled in a ceremony beginning at 12 Noon on Tuesday, November 30th, 2010.  Christmas carols will be performed by the combined choirs of St. Alexander Catholic Church of Villa Park.  An invocation will be given by the Rev. Bernie Lutchman of Business Men In Christ (Springfield).

Short speeches will be given by Springfield Nativity Scene Committee members, including Daniel T. Zanoza, Chairman; Thomas Brejcha, Esq., SNSC’s legal counsel and President of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society; David E. Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Family Institute; and Beth Rogers, an influential pro-family activist from Springfield.  The Master of Ceremonies for the opening day ceremony will be Julie Zanoza of Lincoln.

The Nativity scene will be on display during normal business hours from November 30th through Christmas.

For more information, please contact:

Daniel Zanoza by phone at:  (217) 314-0211 or e-mail inquiries to:   [email protected] or [email protected] 

To make a contribution to the SNSC, please make your check or money order payable to the “Springfield Nativity Scene Committee” and mail it to:  Springfield Nativity Scene Committee, 904 21st St., # 71, Lincoln, IL 62656.