Get a load of this, this was uploaded to NBC Chicago's YouTube channel. A documentary about a movement for the rest of the state of Illinois to separate themselves from Cook County & Chicago. Legitimate gripes is for example continued control over Illinois by the politicians of the Chicago area.
Might be more to it than that certainly complaints about quality of life, taxes, even mentions of Chicago being less of a goldmine than a financial disaster. Perhaps the divide depicted in this documentary are between the rural and small towns of this state and a big city like Chicago. [VIDEO]
Question to be asked here, how can we make Illinois a better state?
The time has come. The penny has been retired and production has ceased at the US Mint. The penny costs a lot to produce in recent years thanks to inflation so that helped with the decision of the Trump administration to end the production of the penny.
[VIDEO] From yesterday's inauguration immediately after President Trump was sworn in at the 47th POTUS.
He sets the tone for the next four years of his presidency. He mentioned how he expect the Federal Gov't will be a meritocracy. He also mentions that gender is either a man or a woman 🤯. He also discusses taking control of the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
And of course after this he signs a series of executive orders with regards to some of these issues. He's ordering federal employees back into the office, several executive orders with regards to immigration and taking control of the southern U.S./Mexico border, also with regards to energy opening up Alaska for energy production.
Aside from the more pomp and circumstances aspects of January 20, 2025 he already had a relatively busy day.
[VIDEO] I sadly haven't paid a whole lot of attention to the movement of President Jimmy Carter's remains or any services that have been held for him. At one point his remains were in repose at his presidential library in Atlanta which is where the Morehouse College Glee Club made this recent performance.
Currently, the Presidents remains are in repose at the US Capitol as ceremonies continue for the 39th P.O.T.U.S. who had passed away December 29, 2024.
This shows how in tune I am with the political scene right now.
This time four years ago, outgoing President Donald Trump held a rally where he asked his supporters to go to the U.S. Capitol to protest the count of those electoral votes in a joint session of the U.S. Congress. Which quickly became an "insurrection". It was a very scary day and I just couldn't believe that our democracy, our republic seemed to be underseige by "mob violence".
It seemed one side had to defend themselves and the other side played offense trying to paint the insurrectionists as anti-democracy or traitors. January 6 for some became a day of great rememberance. However, seemingly this day was also forgotten by a number of Americans.
Furthermore the man who won the Presidential Election for 2024 was not supposed to be in that race. There were court cases, even an impeachment trial commenced even before he left office. And guess what on this day, in 2024 he's the one who's vote are being certified in front of Congress.
If the so-called insurrection was used to try to keep him out of the White House, it helped to bring him right back in. I'm sure someone out there is protesting this. I see the incumbent President who beat him in 2020 isn't exactly organizing a rally to fight this. And the woman, the 2024 winner vanquished has to preside over the count to certify the 2024 electoral votes.
Barring any news reports of any "trouble" this should go relatively smooth. Though since President-elect Donald Trump is definitely a very polarizing figure there probably will be some protests from some members of Congress trying to object..
And just think with the "insurrection" of 2020, whatever objections to that race between President Trump and then President-elect Joe Biden fell apart once the U.S. Capitol was secured.
At this point whatever unfolds, you can see on C-Span if you don't want any editorializing of the proceedings. Or you can watch this live stream via FOX News. [VIDEO]
[VIDEO] On January 20, 2025, the United States of America will inaugurate the 47th President in Donald J. Trump. Who knows what his legacy will be once he leaves office.
Bill O'Reilly in a special on NewsNation discusses his book Confronting the Presidents besides being a "news analyst" his other passion is as a historian. He brags about his "best sellers" and this is one of many of his books.
His 5 worst presidents is surprising.
5. Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)
4. John Tyler (1841-1845)
3. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
2. Joe Biden (2021-2025)
1. I already known James Buchanan (1857-1861)
Franklin Pierce served immediately before James Buchanan both presidents are considered a failure. Buchanan especially because he allowed the United States to split apart before his far more successful successor Abraham Lincoln took office.
John Tyler succeeded William Henry Harrison as president (he only served 31 days in office before his passing). He was unable to govern and O'Reilly sites Tyler's absolute support for slavery as why he ranks him as the fourth worst President.
What makes Lyndon Johnson the worst was the Vietnam War. Also they noted some aspects of his personality basically very crude and bullying. However, I would agree his conduct of the Vietnam War hampers his historic legacy which includes the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and even the War on Poverty.
Joe Biden well where do we start with him. He's still our president until at least January 20, 2025. And it's amazing he's already on this list. They cite the troubled withdrawal from Afghanistan, others may cite America's standing in the world since he became President, his cognitive disabilities, etc. Well I'm sure O'Reilly goes further than I do here.
And let's not forget about the 5 best Presidents. However, you have to watch the video to find out.
[VIDEO] I have my own favorites, but what are yours? Some of these designs catch my eye, I'm sorry it's too late for me to submit my own design.
I think simplicity is key but in keeping with my idea for an Illinois Republic, the new state flag should be something of a Tri-Color like the French flag although not necessarily the same colors and not a mere replication.
[VIDEO] To be honest there were some aspects of this story I wish was handled differently. They had to mention that President Trump is a convicted felon. Then they mentioned those people who were an election denier (2020 race).
What is accurate is that the Democrats misread the electorate. That although Trump has his flaws (yeah being a felon isn't necessarily a flaw, there are much more real flaws than that), a lot of people chose him over Vice President Kamala Harris. No one uses the term "kitchen table" issues, but that term would be the key one to use here.
The cost of housing, groceries, and let's not forget about gas. Those were issues that people were following throughout these last four years of the Biden presidency. And also as a consideration people might remember Trump's presidency at least before the pandemic in 2020.
It's amazing that this was a landslide. Trump's victory in 2016 he lost in the popular vote but he was able to get a majority of electoral votes to secure the presidency. This year he won in both the popular vote and electoral votes. He was able to sweep such battleground states as North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, and most recently Arizona.
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania certainly helped Trump secure the presidency for the second time.
One last takeway, there was no enthusiasm for the Vice President who sought to become America's first woman president. She had a lot of flaw and the more voters knew about her, I'm sure those flaws turned them off.
As I've learned about voter turnout. Let's say a particular base isn't that enthused by a candidate they're most likely to vote for they won't vote. They may just stay home instead. As with 2016 there was more enthusiasm for President Trump.
[VIDEO] Door County, Wisconsin right at the top of the eastern peninsula of the state. This county could "decide" the the next P.O.T.U.S. And Wisconsin is a battleground state.
In the 2016 election Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania made the difference and handed the 46th P.O.T.U.S. Donald Trump the White House. Those states proved pivotal for Joe Biden in 2020 where he was elected the 47th P.O.T.U.S. and he effectively flipped those states back to blue. Oh yeah let's not forget nominally these are often blue states. Perhaps Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are more purple than blue.
And also add that 2016 and 2020 the results in those elections for President were very close. Narrow margins and in 2020 certainly in Detroit, MI or Philadelphia, PA there were allegations of "voter fraud".
Regardless, whether you vote early or wait for election day next month vote. Make sure it counts, the race shouldn't just be "decided" by one county in the whole nation!
[VIDEO] The Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz speech last night at the Democrat Nat'l Convention in Chicago. He accepts his party's nomination for Vice President and running mate to the presumptive Democrat nominee and sitting Vice President Kamala Harris.
Tonight Kamala Harris will accept the Democrat nomination for President of the United States.
[VIDEO] Mike Lowe from WGN goes over the history of Presidential conventions that were held in Chicago. Next week, Chicago hosts the Democratic Nat'l Convention the first one since 1996 when Democrats renominated Bill Clinton as he ran for a second term at President that year.
Abraham Lincoln was nominated in two conventions held in Chicago in 1864 & 1868. One convention was held at the Wigwam which once stood near Wacker & Lake Street in Chicago. As you see in the above video a marker commemorates the site. Besides we're living in the Land of Lincoln. 👍
The last Republican convention held in Chicago was 1960 when they nominated then Vice President Richard Nixon. He would go on to lose to the Democrats' choice then U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy. Illinois proved to be a pivotal state in Kennedy's election to the Presidency.
I do look forward to the day that an Elephant - the Republican's symbol - can one day march along Chicago's city streets. Though in 2024, the Republicans were very close as they were up north in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
[VIDEO] US Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) speaks on Wednesday nite at the Republican Nat'l Convention in Milwaukee, WI. He's former Pres. Donald Trump's choice for a VP running mate which he announced on Monday. We seem him speak to a nat'l audience in prime time last nite.
A 36 min speech airing which showed without interruption and without commentary on C-Span.
Juneteenth has been a holiday since about 2021 and it was in the wake of the unrest and pandemic of 2020.
Juneteenth is a day June 19th that reputedly celebrates the day that slaves were freed in the state of Texas in 1865. It's considered America's 2nd Independence Day.
Here's a quick story from CBS News with regards to today's holiday. Showing how communities around America celebrates this holiday [VIDEO]
[VIDEO] The new year is 2024 and what's the significance? It's yet time for another Presidential Election. And soon it will be time for one of the earliest presidential primaries, the Iowa Caucuses.
And so far the last almost three years IMHO has been very rough with Joe Biden in office. Right now the news has been about rising crime, a porous border (here in Chicago we're concerned about the migrants being bused from Texas and what to do with them when "Chiberia" weather hits), and then foreign affairs we got wars ongoing in Ukraine and in the Middle East conflict has again flared up between Israel and the Palestinians.
So in the next presidential election who might be best to usher in peace in Ukraine or even cool the tensions between Israel and the Palestinians? Who might be able to best ease the issues of inflation so that Americans will get more bang for their buck when it comes to buying food at least? And then someone needs to close that border and insure common sense measures to allow people to immigrate to America legally.
So anyway I asked all these questions and perhaps some if not all were address to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who engaged with undecided Iowa voters in this recent segment from Iowa TV station KCCI. Gov. DeSantis who is lauded as a very strong state governor and was considered by many - inlcuding me but what do I know - as a future President. However, his rollout has been rough.
As of now the current front runner for the Presidency who could defeat President Joe Biden is former President Donald Trump whom himself was defeated by Biden in 2020. It would be interesting to see how 2024 will unfold.
Oh and the Democratic National Convention will be in Chicago for the first time since 1996!
Schoolhouse Rock are animated shorts that might air during commercial breaks typically on ABC during Saturday morning cartoons - wait what are those? Between say 7 AM to about 12 Noon on Saturdays the big four TV networks ABC, CBS, NBC, & FOX would air children's programming usually cartoons during that time. These days you're more likely to find educational/informative programming on those networks during that time on Saturday mornings.
Anyway they would typically take on educational topics in this case this video would look at the Declaration of Independence. That is the document where these United States our nation declared their independence from the British Empire. So this was the holiday we celebrate today with BBQ and fireworks.
[VIDEO] I'm sorry I missed out on the original iPhone which was released in 2007. Then again at the time it was a little pricey for me and it was difficult to conceive of a phone that could send & receieve emails, text messages, use Google Maps, watch videos, resize photos, etc.
As for the photo thing, well I carried around the original Motorola Razr which was a camera phone. I liked taking pictures with it although the picture quality wasn't that great. It did receive text messages although what I needed it for was as a phone to make and receive phone calls.
What I see today is that the iPhone didn't have the cool factor it once did. The iPhone was the coolest thing in 2007, and perhaps most innovative. As happens overtime is that the competitors catch up.
Have you see the recent comments of Google Pixel vs iPhone. It's almost as if they're buddies and yet the Google Pixel is the hero in most of them. The Pixel charged up the iPhone when it was low on battery. The Pixel seems better equipped to deal with hackers.
Another commercial from Samsung a few years ago seemed to knock Apple's dongels, especially once the iPhone eliminated the headphone jack which was after iPhone 7. There's an adapter (dongel) where you use the lightning port to connect your headphone to the phone.
This 2007 story from CBS is a fascinating look back.
[VIDEO] I didn't know this but yesterday was election day in Kentucky. They have their own statewide elections in off years - neither midterm nor presidential years. So last night Republicans voted in a primary an elected their Attorney General Daniel Cameron as their nominee for Kentucky Governor.
Above from a Kentucky TV station is Cameron's victory speech. You may know Cameron from his findings with regards to those police officers who were involved in the tragic death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky during a raid back in 2020.
Also last year I heralded that three Black Republicans were running for Governor last year. In our state - Illinois - Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin who had a significant financial advantage being backed by billionaire Ken Griffin was edged out by nominee Darren Bailey in last year's Republican primary. In Michigan the former Detroit Police Chief James Craig was knocked off the ballot. In Georgia, former state Representative Vernon Jones actually withdrew from the Governor's race to instead make an unsuccessful run for U.S. Congress.
I'd be curious to see how Daniel Cameron will fare against incumbent Kentucky Governor Andy Breshear in November of this year.
Meanwhile there is currently one sitting Black Governor in America who was elected in the 2022 midterms, Democrat Wes Moore in Maryland.
[VIDEO] Reading Rainbow was a public TV series that often aired on PBS TV stations around the nation during the 1980s. Actor Levar Burton hosted this show in addition to being USS Enterprise Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
What I have seen in this episode so far are the rehearsals and it appears that Burton and the TNG crew were doing a scene during that series very first season all the way in 1987-88. A long time ago, and back during the first season La Forge was actually the flight officer for the Enterprise as opposed to Chief Engineer for which he was promoted by the series' 2nd season.
Reading Rainbow is a series that's really about books, however, in this episode it seems as if Burton is giving you an inside look in the production of a TV series. Perhaps there is a child out there who saw this edition and decided they wanted to go into TV production. Perhaps they wanted to go into acting. Who knows.
However, I hope you enjoy this look back.
ALSO, if you're a Star Trek fan Levar Burton is back in Star Trek Picard as Commodore Geordi La Forge. So they promoted him again to be a "flag officer" in Starfleet. And the final episode of Picard airs on the streaming service Paramount Plus. Hopefully you will check it out and stream other Star Trek series available.
[VIDEO] In 2007, then US Sen. Barack Obama announced his successful campaign for President of the United states at the old state capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Of course as we know Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. Another historical note in the above TV report from WBBM-TV, Abraham Lincoln started his road to the White House from this same building. It was here in this building that he served in the Illinois General Assembly.
Well if I ever go to Springfield this is one sight I want to visit and share on my YouTube channel.
[VIDEO] A federal judge in Texas blocked Biden's recent student loan forgiveness plan because it was said to be beyond the authority of the US Dept. of Education and the federal gov't executive branch. Also in a separate case filed in St. Louis, Missouri it only put on hold the execution of Pres. Biden's student loan forgiveness although those who wished to apply still could.
As of now student loan forgiveness applications are currently on hold.
