McHenry County Blog

When I pulled my Chicago Tribune out of the plastic bag and put it on the kitchen counter, you see what I saw:

Above the fold, the Tribune ad says, “Are you better off.” Below the fold, the message continues, “than you were 4 million years ago? – The Croods”

From my point of view, this is where ads are placed to interfere with my reading the front page. Usually I just rip them off.

This time my political antennae went up as I read the first part of President Ronald Reagan’s famous TV debate question:

“Are you better off now

Why would that be on the front page of the Tribune the day for President Barack Obama’s second Inauguration Ceremony?

As I turned the paper over, I read the rest of the question:

than you were 4 million years ago?”

Down at the bottom in much, much smaller type was “The Croods.”

Turns out it has nothing to do with Obama, but is promoting a movie called “The Croods” coming out on March 22nd.

The inside of the wrap around ad for the upcoming Dreamworks’ movie, “The Croods.”

State Rep. candidate David McSweeney has sent his fourth direct mail piece to prospective constituents in the 52nd District.

While he undoubtedly has residual name identification resulting from his run for Congress in the 8th District against Melissa Bean, people have short memories about politicians.

This piece has a soft side and a hard side.

The warm and fuzzy side of Dave McSweeney's mailing

The soft side features the women in his family, his wife and his daughters.  It’s where the address is.

The hard side takes on legislative salaries and fringe benefits.

The issue side of the Dave McSweeney mailing. Note the appeal to Ronald Reagan admirers.

McSweeney says he wants to

• get rid of legislative pensions
• cut legislative salaries 10%
• ban taxpayer financed mailings
• cut the administrative part of the legislative budget 10%
• prohibit the use of legislative staff for campaign work
• end special legislative scholarships

It’s hard to believe that he would find much opposition to such proposals, considering the mood of the public.

McSweeney is running against appointed State Rep. Kent Gaffney and Danielle Rowe.

Has anyone received a mailing for either of them?

A press release in honor of President Ronald Reagan’s birthday from Joe Walsh:

Congressman Walsh Honors President Reagan’s 100th Birthday

Joe Walsh

McHenry, IL—Today, Rep. Joe Walsh and his family join with other families all across America and the world to honor the memory of America’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan.

Last night, Rep. Walsh celebrated President Reagan’s conservative legacy at a 100th Birthday Party.

Guests included Senator Mark Kirk, members of the Illinois Republican Congressional Delegation, Congressman Mike Pence, and Speaker Newt Gingrich.

“I am proud today,” said Walsh, “to honor the memory of a great leader and a great American. And I am privileged to serve the people of President Reagan’s home state, Illinois.”

“Like President Reagan, we still face that long twilight struggle. Our nation is burdened by debt, unsustainable spending, and runaway government. But this past November, the American people remembered his old fundamental truth—‘government is not the solution, government is the problem.’

“And they spoke loud and clear: cut taxes, cut spending, and cut government. That was Reagan’s philosophy, and I am proud to carry on his tradition.

“Yet as we face the tough decisions ahead, we must keep alive Reagan’s eternal optimism. We must affirm as he did, that ‘for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead,’ that we are and must always be that shining city on a hill.

“Let’s go out there and win won for the Gipper.”