He could have saved himself the hassle, saved us the money, and gotten a much fuller picture of the problem by dropping by a few places in Elgin. For starters he might want to place a call over to Leo Nelson at the Chamber of Commerce. It would be a good chance to ask Leo why the US Chamber continues to lobby, despite increasing American unemployment, for “immigration reform” bringing into the country more millions of peon laborers for the jobs they can’t send to Mexico, India or China. And then Dr. Science could stop off at the Police Station to ask Chief Womack about the illegal alien gang members arrested this week in Elgin and whether this development has changed the Chief’s opinion that “immigration” has had no connection to organized crime in Elgin. Foster also truly could do us all a service by finding out who employs the Mexican gangsters when they’re not out hustling drugs, shooting people or engaged in their other recreations. According to today’s Herald 48 “undocumented immigrants” (love those euphemisms) were arrested in the area this week for gang activity. Who employees them? I suspect there are powerful business and political forces that don’t want that information released, but as a Congressman Foster could do us all a genuine favor by finding those facts. That is, if he really wants to find facts.

But the issue isn’t about federal funding here.

It’s about promising one thing and doing another. When you’re campaigning on the promise of fighting out of control spending and then turn around and request more than $55M in pork for your district, it just shows poor leadership and character.

Wow, the nerve.

I don’t mind that Mr. Foster is making federal funding requests. I just think it’s ironic that he was criticizing other people for out of control spending and then turns around and requests $55.8M in pork, and doing it very publicly in an election year.

It doesn’t have anything to do with being a Democrat or a Republican. Tim Schmitz, a Republican is another person who did something similar. Just a week before an election, he said he was introducing some tax-cutting legislation, which he conceded would never get passed.

Whichever party is concerned, it’s the same political garbage.

Anybody who thought that the real changes that Bill Foster was talking about were positive changes, well perhaps it’s time to evaluate his record. From what I’ve seen recently it’s not impressive, and that’s from a conservative standpoint. From the left, R. Swan’s comment seems to suggest that Mr. Foster has betrayed his base, and has already changed positions to fit whatever he thinks will get him re-elected.

Mr. Foster in his short time in his office has already shown himself to be a politician of convenience, not one of conviction or principal.

Jim Oberweis has often been criticized as not being likable enough. And sure that matters to some extent, but where it really matters, on character, convictions and principles, you can’t help but admire his willingness to take stands that are not popular but correct–or which at least he believes to be correct.

I don’t agree with Mr. Oberweis on all issues, but I respect his ability to stick by his beliefs whether they will get him elected or not.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

And nobody excels at deficit spending like the modern Repub party and their 100 yrs of war.

Shame Foster doesn’t have the guts to fight it.

He can make his requests public and open himself up to your spin and complaints or he can keep things secret and hidden, which you would likely complain about as well.

To the point, however, these are Rep. Foster’s requests for your district. Not all the requests are going to make it through despite your apparent lack of comprehension.

At least he’s being open and honest about his requests and won’t profit from a Boy & Girls Club grant or a parking garage… unlike a certain former Congressman who benefited quite handsomely from the secretive Prairie Parkway deal. No wonder Rep. Hastert “believed there was plenty of time to celebrate accomplishments after the fact but saw little use in notifying the media until the job was done.”