McHenry County Blog

The following press release has been received from 8th District Republican congressional candidate Maria Rodriguez:

Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum Endorses Maria

LONG GROVE, IL, January 4 – Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum has endorsed Maria Rodriguez to be the next U.S. Representative from the 8th district of Illinois.

In response to the news, Maria Rodriguez stated,

“I am very pleased to have the backing of Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum in my race to be the next Congresswoman from the 8th district of Illinois.  Eagle Forum is a great organization promoting pro-family values both in Congress and in state capitols across the country.  Their network of citizen-volunteers helps to ensure our elected officials are held accountable for their votes.  I look forward to working together with Eagle Forum as a Member of Congress come next year.”

Maria Rodriguez is candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 8th district.  She is the current mayor of Long Grove, Illinois. Maria and her husband Ray have lived in Lake County for nearly 25 years where they have raised their three children.

To see the list of Eagle Forum endorsed candidates, visit here.

To learn more about Maria, please visit here.

To see a complete list of Maria’s endorsements, visit here.

As I pointed out September 11th, former McHenry County Coroner candidate Dave Bachmann created an anti-Sheriff Keith Nygren blog. It’s called

“Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry”

It’s an electronic whispering campaign. At least that’s what it reminded me of when I wrote  about it September 23rd.

1,623 people had viewed it then. Now the count is up to 6,027.

I infer that one has been Democratic political campaign consultant James Carville.

Every election cycle has new tools. I remember using the outside of bags that an advertising delivery service put on mailbox posts to hype my campaign for state representative in 1972.

Phyllis Schlafly wrote a cheaply produced book about Barry Goldwater, “A Choice Not an Echo.”

That went hand-in-hand with “A Texan Looks at Lyndon” by J. Evetts Haley.

Haley’s books led to a whispering campaign about how Johnson had stolen the election that put him in the U.S. Senate.

Bachmann’s has covered various aspects of Nygren’s life about which no campaign opponent would want to take the blame.

I won’t itemize them all, but the postings do rely heavily on ridicule, something absolutely no politician can stand.

Bachmann’s blog has led the way to a story even the Northwest Herald could not ignore—the Keith Nygrens having Homestead Exemptions in both McHenry County and Florida. Such a practice is not legal in Florida.

Well, a Nygren supporter has taken up the fight on his blog, which is called

“The Diametrical Woodstock Advocate”

It apparently was started to attack Gus Philpott’s

“Woodstock Advocate”

The latest post on the anti-Woodstock Advocate blog is a flat out attack on Bachmann’s blog.

Thinking about the concept of one blog’s attacking another concept got me thinking of Mad Magazine’s Spy v. Spy.

I never could figure out whether the white or the black spy was the good guy.

Go to both of the battling blogs and make up your own mind.

After reading my piece on Phyllis Schlafly’s talk at the Family PAC cruise Monday night, McHenry County Democratic Party candidate for coroner Dave Bachmann issued the following statement:

“David J. Bachmann, Democratic Candidate for McHenry County Coroner has issued the following statement regarding Cal Skinner’s report of July 29th, regarding Mrs. Phylis Schlafly and her campaign of years ago. Mrs. Schlafly, stood on the belief that all life, from the moment of conception, should be protected.

“The Bachmann for Coroner Campaign, knowing full well of the hard line, yet ethical, and dignified controversial stance taken by Mrs. Schlafly back in the 1970’s regarding her belief that ALL life is to be protected and valued, from the moment of conception, has provided McHenry County Blog with the following press statement:

“Dave Bachmann and his campaign, ‘Bachmann for Coroner,’ proudly stand in like mind with Mrs. Schlafly, and Mrs. Irene Napier of McHenry County Pro-Life PAC. Bachmann states, ‘For 30 years I have held death in my hands.’ Life is a precious gift, provided directly by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“My own life had been spared since 2002 as a cancer survivor. I myself experienced first hand a death experience while on the operating table during a 12-hour life saving operation. I saw the ‘diamonds’ and experienced the sounds, and feelings, of ‘Rushing thru the tunnel’ from death back to life.

“This was a life altering experience of which I promised my God, that I will never allow to go unspoken when provided the opportunity.

“Mr. Skinner’s blog has just provided this opportunity to allow his readers to know… God DOES exist….

“I have been in the ‘Presence of the Holy Spirit.’ His written word is true.

“Thank you Irene Napier and Mrs. Schlafly for your work and for having the courage to stand with ‘integrity’ on LIFE. I can tell you first hand, there is a Reward.

“Protect God’s greatest work. The human life.

“David J. Bachmann”

= = = = =
The photos are of Mrs. Irene Napier and Mrs. Phyllis Schlafly, both were taken at the Family PAC cruise.

After reading my piece on Phyllis Schlafly’s talk at the Family PAC cruise Monday night, McHenry County Democratic Party candidate for coroner Dave Bachmann issued the following statement:

“David J. Bachmann, Democratic Candidate for McHenry County Coroner has issued the following statement regarding Cal Skinner’s report of July 29th, regarding Mrs. Phylis Schlafly and her campaign of years ago. Mrs. Schlafly, stood on the belief that all life, from the moment of conception, should be protected.

“The Bachmann for Coroner Campaign, knowing full well of the hard line, yet ethical, and dignified controversial stance taken by Mrs. Schlafly back in the 1970’s regarding her belief that ALL life is to be protected and valued, from the moment of conception, has provided McHenry County Blog with the following press statement:

“Dave Bachmann and his campaign, ‘Bachmann for Coroner,’ proudly stand in like mind with Mrs. Schlafly, and Mrs. Irene Napier of McHenry County Pro-Life PAC. Bachmann states, ‘For 30 years I have held death in my hands.’ Life is a precious gift, provided directly by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“My own life had been spared since 2002 as a cancer survivor. I myself experienced first hand a death experience while on the operating table during a 12-hour life saving operation. I saw the ‘diamonds’ and experienced the sounds, and feelings, of ‘Rushing thru the tunnel’ from death back to life.

“This was a life altering experience of which I promised my God, that I will never allow to go unspoken when provided the opportunity.

“Mr. Skinner’s blog has just provided this opportunity to allow his readers to know… God DOES exist….

“I have been in the ‘Presence of the Holy Spirit.’ His written word is true.

“Thank you Irene Napier and Mrs. Schlafly for your work and for having the courage to stand with ‘integrity’ on LIFE. I can tell you first hand, there is a Reward.

“Protect God’s greatest work. The human life.

“David J. Bachmann”

= = = = =
The photos are of Mrs. Irene Napier and Mrs. Phyllis Schlafly, both were taken at the Family PAC cruise.

Tuesday, I put up an article about Phyllis Schlafly’s receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award on Paul Caprio’s Family PAC cruise.

Yesterday, I followed up with the congressional candidates, state senate incumbents and the Republican candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney.

Today, we move onto the challengers.

Running on the North Shore is Brendan Appel. The Glenview resident is emphasizing property tax reform, fighting correction, requiring a two-thirds super majority to raise taxes, “two strikes and you’re out and enforcing immigration laws.

I saw Terri Ann Wintermute early in the evening, but she disappeared to the lower level of the boat. That’s the place to be if it’s raining, but it wasn’t. I finally got a photo of her when she was disembarking. You will remember that I met her in Decatur at the State Republican Convention.

Wintermute has more money than Linda Holmes, the Democratic Party incumbent she is challenging and to whom she lost in 2006 when Republican State Senator Ed Petka retired.

Wintermute had $102,000 at the end June, while Holmes had $49,800.

The final senate candidate (hope I didn’t miss any) was Mike Sweeney. I remember him because he is running for the 33rd district seat. The 33rd district was the one I represented in the 1970’s

Now it is in the Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village area. Sweeney is Elk Grove Township Clerk. He is an assistant manager of a Walgreen’s store.

His palm card stresses he is the only

• lifelong resident of the district,
• one who will refuse to accept pay raises,
• candidate that will protect small business against Gov. Blagojevich’s policies of driving jobs and opportunities to surrounding states,
• one that will NOT vote to re-elect Gov. Blagojevich’s closest ally as Senate President,
• candidate who will hold the line on taxes by reigning in out-of-control spending,
• one who will demand the state pay existing bills before spending more tax dollars.

Among the candidates for state representative was Anita Forte-Scott, the one who will challenge Paul Froehlich, the Republican incumbent who decided to become a Democrat. She has a healthy resume, which includes the presidency of the Schaumburg Township District Library Board, owner/administrator of the Bright Stars Academy, founder and president of the Poplar Creek Watershed Planning Coalition. She is a member of the Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates Rotary Club. I can’t find a web site.

She has hardly any money in the bank, but House Republicans are pretty incensed about Froehlich’s party switching, so abundant money could flow.

Dan Sugrue, the Lake County man running against super liberal Kathleen Ryg and who attended the Pro-Life Victory Committee’s pig roast at Resurrection Center, was on the boat.

Sugrue’s platform includes property tax relief, eliminating the state sales tax on gasoline, requiring a balanced budget, repairing and rebuilding roads without allowing the money to be diverted to other purposes (as Democrats have done this century), increasing higher education scholarships and “establish(ing) the nation’s toughest ethics laws and root(ing) out government corruption.” I can’t find a web site.

Dwight Kay came all the way up from Alton for the cruise. The GOP candidate for the 112th district against Jay Hoffman, one of Governor Rod Blagojevich’s close buddies. In 2004, Kay was finance committee chairman for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier. That was the race that set the Metro East trial lawyers back on their rear ends.

Kay was the first candidate for state representative to call for impeachment hearings for Blagojevich. He obviously has more courage than incumbent house members, none of whom have introduced such a resolution. Kay is senior vice-president of Cassens Trucking.

The Metro East area is looking more and more like the outer suburbs in Chicagoland. Kay can’t pull off an upset with the $17,000 he has on hand, but with an infusion of money he might follow in the footsteps of Frank Watson and Ron Stephens. I hope he is calling all of those Karmeier contributors.

Naperville City Councilman Darlene Senger was another candidate courting conservatives on the boat. She is running to replace retiring Republican State Representative Joe Dunn.

Senger is a financial advisor. If she can translate that into sensible advice on the state budget, her election could be worth the price of admission.

Looking at her web site shows a mix of local concern —opposition to the Canadian Northern’s takeover of the EJ&E Railroad, which will increase suburban congestion along its entire length—and statewide concerns, e.g., fighting political corruption. She has Democratic and Green Party opponents, both women.

Dave McAloon can be seen in the top photo talking to Phyllis Schlafly. He is running for state representative against incumbent Careen Gordon. Gordon’s campaign was financing oh so much by Chicago money.

McAloon is from Kankakee County and has been active in conservative causes for years.

The only other candidate I remember meeting was Lawrence Bruckner. He is running against Mike Boland, an ally of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn from the Quad Cities area.

Bruckner was a shot from my past. He reminded me that he had met me when I was the Republican candidate for State Comptroller.

That was 1982.

What a memory.

He must have been at the press conference that then-State Rep. Tim Bell set up for me so we could both pledge to work against an income tax increase which we, incorrectly, it turns out, said was most likely to occur if Adlai Stevenson III beat Jim Thompson for re-election.

Tuesday, I put up an article about Phyllis Schlafly’s receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award on Paul Caprio’s Family PAC cruise.

Yesterday, I followed up with the congressional candidates, state senate incumbents and the Republican candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney.

Today, we move onto the challengers.

Running on the North Shore is Brendan Appel. The Glenview resident is emphasizing property tax reform, fighting correction, requiring a two-thirds super majority to raise taxes, “two strikes and you’re out and enforcing immigration laws.

I saw Terri Ann Wintermute early in the evening, but she disappeared to the lower level of the boat. That’s the place to be if it’s raining, but it wasn’t. I finally got a photo of her when she was disembarking. You will remember that I met her in Decatur at the State Republican Convention.

Wintermute has more money than Linda Holmes, the Democratic Party incumbent she is challenging and to whom she lost in 2006 when Republican State Senator Ed Petka retired.

Wintermute had $102,000 at the end June, while Holmes had $49,800.

The final senate candidate (hope I didn’t miss any) was Mike Sweeney. I remember him because he is running for the 33rd district seat. The 33rd district was the one I represented in the 1970’s

Now it is in the Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village area. Sweeney is Elk Grove Township Clerk. He is an assistant manager of a Walgreen’s store.

His palm card stresses he is the only

• lifelong resident of the district,
• one who will refuse to accept pay raises,
• candidate that will protect small business against Gov. Blagojevich’s policies of driving jobs and opportunities to surrounding states,
• one that will NOT vote to re-elect Gov. Blagojevich’s closest ally as Senate President,
• candidate who will hold the line on taxes by reigning in out-of-control spending,
• one who will demand the state pay existing bills before spending more tax dollars.

Among the candidates for state representative was Anita Forte-Scott, the one who will challenge Paul Froehlich, the Republican incumbent who decided to become a Democrat. She has a healthy resume, which includes the presidency of the Schaumburg Township District Library Board, owner/administrator of the Bright Stars Academy, founder and president of the Poplar Creek Watershed Planning Coalition. She is a member of the Schaumburg/Hoffman Estates Rotary Club. I can’t find a web site.

She has hardly any money in the bank, but House Republicans are pretty incensed about Froehlich’s party switching, so abundant money could flow.

Dan Sugrue, the Lake County man running against super liberal Kathleen Ryg and who attended the Pro-Life Victory Committee’s pig roast at Resurrection Center, was on the boat.

Sugrue’s platform includes property tax relief, eliminating the state sales tax on gasoline, requiring a balanced budget, repairing and rebuilding roads without allowing the money to be diverted to other purposes (as Democrats have done this century), increasing higher education scholarships and “establish(ing) the nation’s toughest ethics laws and root(ing) out government corruption.” I can’t find a web site.

Dwight Kay came all the way up from Alton for the cruise. The GOP candidate for the 112th district against Jay Hoffman, one of Governor Rod Blagojevich’s close buddies. In 2004, Kay was finance committee chairman for Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier. That was the race that set the Metro East trial lawyers back on their rear ends.

Kay was the first candidate for state representative to call for impeachment hearings for Blagojevich. He obviously has more courage than incumbent house members, none of whom have introduced such a resolution. Kay is senior vice-president of Cassens Trucking.

The Metro East area is looking more and more like the outer suburbs in Chicagoland. Kay can’t pull off an upset with the $17,000 he has on hand, but with an infusion of money he might follow in the footsteps of Frank Watson and Ron Stephens. I hope he is calling all of those Karmeier contributors.

Naperville City Councilman Darlene Senger was another candidate courting conservatives on the boat. She is running to replace retiring Republican State Representative Joe Dunn.

Senger is a financial advisor. If she can translate that into sensible advice on the state budget, her election could be worth the price of admission.

Looking at her web site shows a mix of local concern —opposition to the Canadian Northern’s takeover of the EJ&E Railroad, which will increase suburban congestion along its entire length—and statewide concerns, e.g., fighting political corruption. She has Democratic and Green Party opponents, both women.

Dave McAloon can be seen in the top photo talking to Phyllis Schlafly. He is running for state representative against incumbent Careen Gordon. Gordon’s campaign was financing oh so much by Chicago money.

McAloon is from Kankakee County and has been active in conservative causes for years.

The only other candidate I remember meeting was Lawrence Bruckner. He is running against Mike Boland, an ally of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn from the Quad Cities area.

Bruckner was a shot from my past. He reminded me that he had met me when I was the Republican candidate for State Comptroller.

That was 1982.

What a memory.

He must have been at the press conference that then-State Rep. Tim Bell set up for me so we could both pledge to work against an income tax increase which we, incorrectly, it turns out, said was most likely to occur if Adlai Stevenson III beat Jim Thompson for re-election.

Yesterday, I put up an article about Phyllis Schlafly’s receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award on Paul Caprio’s Family PAC cruise.

It was pretty late when I finished it and I promised to do a piece on the candidates working the crowd on the cruise.

There were plenty there.

Schlafly said they were the generation who would reform the Illinois Republican Party.

I know I won’t do them justice, but here goes.

There were two congressional candidates.

Jim Oberweis gave me hope that he might reverse the special election results. He did that by pointing out the extremely low turn out this spring, compared with the numbers who will vote this fall.

Oberweis explained that 100,000 people voted in the special election, while 300,000 will troop to the polls in this traditionally Republican 14th congressional district at this fall’s presidential election.

That is reason for optimism, it seems to me.

Antoine Members, the Republican Party candidate opposing 1st congressional district Congressman Bobby Rush

Republican Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Tony Peraica also was on the cruise, as he has been before.

There were two incumbent state senators, Bill Brady and Randy Hultgen. You can see Brady below, but, unfortunately, my best shot of Hultgren has his tongue out. (No, not like my son likes to do when I take his picture; more a indication of concentration, I think.)

Brady and Oberweis spent a lot of time talking to each other. You’ll remember that they were opponents during the 2006 GOP gubernatorial primary election. (Charlie Watts can be seen standing between the two.)

There were three Republican state senators, if you count Carol Pankau, who isn’t a big boat person.

She mingled with people before the Lake Michigan cruise.

As I’m told did former Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz did as well.

More tomorrow.

Yesterday, I put up an article about Phyllis Schlafly’s receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award on Paul Caprio’s Family PAC cruise.

It was pretty late when I finished it and I promised to do a piece on the candidates working the crowd on the cruise.

There were plenty there.

Schlafly said they were the generation who would reform the Illinois Republican Party.

I know I won’t do them justice, but here goes.

There were two congressional candidates.

Jim Oberweis gave me hope that he might reverse the special election results. He did that by pointing out the extremely low turn out this spring, compared with the numbers who will vote this fall.

Oberweis explained that 100,000 people voted in the special election, while 300,000 will troop to the polls in this traditionally Republican 14th congressional district at this fall’s presidential election.

That is reason for optimism, it seems to me.

Antoine Members, the Republican Party candidate opposing 1st congressional district Congressman Bobby Rush

Republican Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Tony Peraica also was on the cruise, as he has been before.

There were two incumbent state senators, Bill Brady and Randy Hultgen. You can see Brady below, but, unfortunately, my best shot of Hultgren has his tongue out. (No, not like my son likes to do when I take his picture; more a indication of concentration, I think.)

Brady and Oberweis spent a lot of time talking to each other. You’ll remember that they were opponents during the 2006 GOP gubernatorial primary election. (Charlie Watts can be seen standing between the two.)

There were three Republican state senators, if you count Carol Pankau, who isn’t a big boat person.

She mingled with people before the Lake Michigan cruise.

As I’m told did former Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Gidwitz did as well.

More tomorrow.

It’s not many times that you get to be at an affair with someone who has changed American history.

Last night was one of those times.

The woman who led the successful fight against the Equal Rights Amendment was on a fund raising cruise for Paul Capiro’s Family PAC.

She also is the reason the Republican Party is a pro-life party, according to Caprio.

I remember reading her 1964 book, “A Choice Not An Echo,” and realizing that she had created the new campaign technique for the year–the mass produced political book.

Last night was the first time Schlafly had seen the Chicago lakefront from a boat on Lake Michigan.

The views she saw were certainly worth her trip from the St. Louis area.

After Family PAC Chairman Emeritus Tom Roeser presented the Lifetime Achievement Award, Schlafly spoke to the 180 attendees.

She complemented the candidates present. (More on them in another article.)

Schlafly knew what she was talking about because she ran for office in 1952 in a Democratic district after her husband decided not to run.

She said she was called “the power puff candidate. It was a fun year.”

“I know we’ve had some dismal days in Illinois, but things are looking up.”

I think she said something like “they have to,” suggesting they couldn’t go any lower.

Speaking of the candidates present, the veteran Republican activist said,

“We’re going to get them elected and start over.”

Commenting more generally on campaigning, Schlafly came up with this gem:

“I have run for public office.

“It’s a dog’s life.

“I wouldn’t wish that on Betty Friedan.”

“We’ve been through some tough times,” she continued, then asserting,

“This is no worse than 1976.”

She related how North Carolina’s Jesse Helms came up with a conservative platform which was forced upon President Gerald Ford.

“Helm’s platform prepared the way for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 victory,” she explained.

“I think politics is the best game in town,” the political science major said.

In his introduction of Schlafly, Caprio was effusive in his praise of perhaps the most influential woman in politics in the 20th century.

Attending from McHenry County were the Skinners, Gene and Nancy Brown of Alqonquin and Irene Napier of Crystal Lake. The young lady with Napier and Schlafly in the bottom photo is Napier’s granddaughter.

It’s not many times that you get to be at an affair with someone who has changed American history.

Last night was one of those times.

The woman who led the successful fight against the Equal Rights Amendment was on a fund raising cruise for Paul Capiro’s Family PAC.

She also is the reason the Republican Party is a pro-life party, according to Caprio.

I remember reading her 1964 book, “A Choice Not An Echo,” and realizing that she had created the new campaign technique for the year–the mass produced political book.

Last night was the first time Schlafly had seen the Chicago lakefront from a boat on Lake Michigan.

The views she saw were certainly worth her trip from the St. Louis area.

After Family PAC Chairman Emeritus Tom Roeser presented the Lifetime Achievement Award, Schlafly spoke to the 180 attendees.

She complemented the candidates present. (More on them in another article.)

Schlafly knew what she was talking about because she ran for office in 1952 in a Democratic district after her husband decided not to run.

She said she was called “the power puff candidate. It was a fun year.”

“I know we’ve had some dismal days in Illinois, but things are looking up.”

I think she said something like “they have to,” suggesting they couldn’t go any lower.

Speaking of the candidates present, the veteran Republican activist said,

“We’re going to get them elected and start over.”

Commenting more generally on campaigning, Schlafly came up with this gem:

“I have run for public office.

“It’s a dog’s life.

“I wouldn’t wish that on Betty Friedan.”

“We’ve been through some tough times,” she continued, then asserting,

“This is no worse than 1976.”

She related how North Carolina’s Jesse Helms came up with a conservative platform which was forced upon President Gerald Ford.

“Helm’s platform prepared the way for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 victory,” she explained.

“I think politics is the best game in town,” the political science major said.

In his introduction of Schlafly, Caprio was effusive in his praise of perhaps the most influential woman in politics in the 20th century.

Attending from McHenry County were the Skinners, Gene and Nancy Brown of Alqonquin and Irene Napier of Crystal Lake. The young lady with Napier and Schlafly in the bottom photo is Napier’s granddaughter.