Robert Dunn's blog

I am currently having a problem. As a Republican, i would love to be able to have someone from my party represent me in the state house from my own party. However, I am having reservations about supporting our current candidate. It is not that he is 21 or a student. It has more to do with the maturity level. Someone running for any office should not be bragging about what they did on Unofficial St. Patricks Day. I am also leery about supporting a candidate that thinks that there is some natural right for college students to binge drink. 

I also have a problem with the fact that Mr. Calabrese has zero ties to Champaign-Urbana outside of his college days. Contrary to what he may think, there is more in CU than the U of I. How is Calabrese going to reach out to the non-student population in the 103rd who are actually registered to vote in the 103rd? Most students are not from CU nor are they registered to vote here at all! Remember how most election years, Mark Sheldan is accused of disenfranchising students because he enforces actual election laws? How is Calabrese supposed to just rely on student voters when most students can not vote in his own state house race? How many students are actually from the 103rd? I have three options, just "support the party" and vote for Calabrese, switch over and vote for Naomi, or just skip that line in its entirety. What should I do? What is Frank going to do for the actual residents of the 103rd district rather than some kids from the "Burbs?" 

Finally, when will the GOP get some real candidates from this area to "threaten" Naomi? I know that Mr. Brendan McGinty might give her a primary in 2010 after the November election. Maybe he would be a better state rep than the above options?

Any thoughts?

When i first started IP about a year ago, this was a place where right-of-center thinking people could come and blog. A year later, those who are right-of-center have for the most part left. Why, IP has turned into ML. Any thoughtful discussion or critiques of candidates that he supports are getting censored and deleted. What is going on Gordy? Why have you suddenly flipped your lid?

Hey, did anyone hear that CA now has joined Massachusetts in having their state Supreme Court legalize same-sex marriage from the bench? This is more reason why we need judges that know the difference between interpreting and making law.

Discuss!!!!

Ok, I was around Lincoln Square this past Saturday, and I could have sworn that I saw Alderman Charlie Smyth of Ward 1 in Urbana riding his bike while talking on his cell phone! Ok, that is sheer hypocrisy and he needs to be called out on it!

What is it going to take for the GOP to capture the youth vote or campus vote? The stereotype of younger voters is that they are either liberal activists or too apathetic! However locally, 2008 promises to bring youth into the races. In the 103rd district, we have a U of I junior Frank Calabrese who is running against Naomi Jacobbson for state representative! In the County Board District 7 race, one of the candidates is finishing up her undergrad and is entering grad school in the fall. However, how does a Republican capture the Youth Vote? How would Stephanie Dold and Tony Pomonis convey to the campus area how county issues affect students? Frank seems to have an easier time though.

Any thoughts without obnoxious comments about the Calabrese family or insults hurled at innocent sorority girls who might not know what IlliniPundit is!

Yesterday, the Urbana City Council Committee of the Whole decided to not censor Timothy Brumleve's anti-Semitic rants on UPTV much to the objections of the CU Jewish Community. As abhorrent as Mr. Brumleves views are, I happen to agree with the City Council on this. It is not any governments role to protect any community from speech that is offensive or hateful. As much as the Jewish community has suffered from anti-Semitism in the past, i am getting pretty annoyed at the constant alarmism everytime some oddball like Brumleve or Matt Hale comes out and instead of ignoring the idiot, we give the bigots all the attention they want by protesting them and trying to silence them. There is much to be criticized about UPTV, but banning all Third party programming because of one bad program is not the way to go. The only dissenter was Lynne Barnes against the majority. Heather Stevenson wisely said that it was the parents responsibility, not the City Council to determine what children should be watching!

Any thoughts on this?

Robert Dunn

Hey, has anyone seen the Ben Stein movie, "Expelled?" I had a chance to, and I was impressed! It is a stunning commentary on our state of higher education when people can not even question Darwin without risk to their career.

The man known as Illini Pundit has a dark secret.. While masquerading around as a true and red Republican, he works behind the scenes for Kim Jong Il!  Heeeerrrroooo IP! Forget the Democratic Party. They are just the fascist wing of the corporate party oligarchy comprising the Republicans, Democrats, Greens, Libertarians, and Democratic Socialists. No, IP is a man of the People. To him, power flows out of the barrel of a gun. The anniversary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution is a holiday in his eyes.

Sorry Kevin, the Democratic Party is too right-wing for IP! He needs some real revolutionaries.

Viva Kim Jong Il!

NOTE: None of this is true! I am just demonstrating that sometimes we need humor in our lives. If in any shape or form, Gordy is somehow connected with a third world  dictator that starves his own people while building nuclear weapons in defiance of IAEA regulations, its a mere coincidence and has no bearance on the Illinois or Champaign County Republican or Democratic Parties.

Diversity 101: Five Easy Steps to Liberal Sensitivity

By Alyssa Cordova

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Originally posted at townhall.com

Students in university-run leadership positions are often required to participate in some type of diversity training because simply being a just and logical person is no longer enough to lead a group of people. Instead, one must be immersed in every type of culture, background, and lifestyle the Office of Diversity Programs and Services can comprehend. The Resident Advisor preparation I was given at George Mason University recently was no exception, and I have broken down GMU diversity indoctrination into five easy steps so that you, too, can become the sensitive person the Left wants you to be.

Step #1: “Examine and come to terms with your own personal prejudices.”

The second step is the Left’s subliminal way of reminding you that those truly needing diversity training (whites, specifically males) are at fault for the plights of women and minorities. Embrace the fact that discrimination is your fault and do something about it.

George Mason University, like many public universities, is an affirmative action institution, meaning they discriminate on the basis of race and/or gender when accepting and rejecting applicants for admission. Although this obvious bigotry exists in the admissions process, I have an inkling this is not what the trainers meant when they ask you to “[address] discrimination you encounter on campus.”

Step #3: “Get involved in activities and events sponsored by different groups…[or] enroll in a semester-long cultural diversity course or workshop, or a course about a culture different from your own.”

In the third step, you must begin to immerse yourself into various cultures in order to grasp how truly difficult it is for such groups to exist in our society. You must delve deeply into the immersion process by formally educating yourself about diverse cultures. Unless you want to learn about white people, George Mason provides its students with a wide variety of programs, including: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month; Black History Month; Safe zone training to become an “ally” to the members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Community; Hispanic Heritage Month; and American Indian Heritage Week. Participating in these events is the best way to truly experience the difficult lives of minorities. After all, nothing says oppression like a Pow-Wow!

Step #4: “Make a sincere effort to establish a meaningful relationship with a student of a different ethnic or cultural background or lifestyle.”

In the fourth step you are to personalize your newfound sensitivity by using discriminatory practices to find a culturally different “friend.” Long gone are the days of freely associating with people because you like them or have something in common with them. Now you must create bonds with people for the purpose of easing your guilt for the inherent bigotry you never knew you had. Once you have done this, you can breathe easy knowing you have taken a poor, friendless minority under your wing.

Step #5: “Learn to overcome the tendency to stereotype members of various groups, and instead, try to develop a sensitivity to their feelings and experiences.”

Step five can be rather difficult because, after four steps of forcing yourself to become aware of cultural differences, you are now expected to ignore all of that and pretend these differences do not exist. But don’t worry; you’ve reached the end of your journey of diversity ignorance recovery! You can now take the knowledge you have acquired and be a true advocate for these poor, underrepresented groups. Can’t you feel your heart bleeding already?

I wish readers of IP an happy, blessed, and safe Easter Triduum this weekend!

Robert Dunn

Just in, John McCain has received the endorsement of John Hagee. Hagee is known as a rabid anti-Catholic! Isn't this a big flip-flop from 2000 when he campaigned against George W. Bush by lambasting the President for having an event at Bob Jones University? All of the media is focusing on Obama's affiliation with Trinity United Church of Christ and Louis Farrakhan. What is this now, famous bigots are now endorsing candidates. What next, Matt Hale supporting Oberweis?

I think that Obama should distance himself from both Wright and Farrakhan and that McCain should repudiate Hagee for his extremist views.

If either do nothing, I forsee the Catholic vote going Democratic and the Jewish vote going Republican.

Discusssion?

Robert Dunn

I was pondering whether a McCain Huckabee ticket would get the Southern Republicans behind McCain? I do not see really that much enthusiasm for a McCain/Romney ticket.

Discuss!

Robert Dunn

Ann Coulter announces support for Hillary contingent upon a McCain victory Tuesday. I support that! Maybe it would be better a Democrat to win. Hopefully this could unite the GOP and we

can focus all of our efforts on winning back Congress in 2010. So, please vote for Romney Tuesday. He is better than McCain. Since Fred Thompson left the race, he is the main GOP

option for conservatives. Sean Hannity has endorsed him, who by the way has left the GOP and is a declared "Independent Conservative." Its time for the GOP to shapen up, or

we deserve another "thumpin " this fall. Stop McCain at all cost!

Support Romney Tuesday, and if worse comes to worse, Hillary in Nov.

ok, i just watched an interesting documentary called "Indoctrinate U!" In the name of academic freedom, professors are using

the classroom as their ideological bully pulpits. Part of my college career days was spent working for David Horowitz and

Students for Academic Freedom, www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org. How is UIUC, when it comes to academic freedom for

conservative, pro-Israel, pro-American liberals/Democrats, evangelical Christian, Catholic students and professors? Maybe it is

just California. At UC Irvine, the president of the College Republicans received death threats after they posted advertisments for

a lecture by a pro-Israel Arab speaker, Nonie Darwish. At Concordia University, former Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu

was physically prevented from speaking due to security threats because the protests were turning into riots and they were

concerned for students safety. I have never heard of speakers like Noam Chomsky, Jimmy Carter, Michael Moore, needing

heavy security at their speaking events. I have never heard of out of control College Republicans rioting outside of a liberal speaker.

However, Ann Coulter, Pat Buchanan, David Horowitz, Bill Kristol, and Star Parker have all been assaulted during their speech.

Meanwhile, the professors who use their classroom for extremist politics cry "McCarthyism" when someone dares to question them.

At California State University San Bernardino, pro-life students, who were holding a peaceful vigil outside of a lecture by Gloria

Steinem were arrested and charged with, get this, protesting "outside of the 'free-speech zone,'" and "creating a hostile environment

for women on campus. Considering that the majority of those arrested were women was amusing, only one male was arrested.

Students in the California State University system are forced to sign a statement that they will not engage in "hate speech." All

student organization have to sign a severely draconian "inclusiveness" statement in their club constitution. This has been

mostly used against conservative, evangelical Christian, Catholic, Mormon, and Muslim organizations because of the fact that all of these religions do not condone nor promote homosexuality. At Cal State Long Beach, the Muslim Student Association decided to leave out sexual orientation and religion in their anti-discrimination policy since, they only wanted committed Muslims to be voting in their organization.

At CSUSB, the LDSSA, and the Catholic Club were denied a charter because they would not include sexual orientation in their anti-discrimination policy. The Alliance Defense Fund, filed suit, however, the LDSSA chickened out and amended their Constitution to placate the student government and the campus dean of political correctness.

How is UIUC? I know that the Hillel was being attacked back in 2000. After the Palestinian reign of terror reignited in the "2nd Intifada", Jewish students were reporting harrassment, and even the Hillel building was defaced with anti-Semitic slogans.

The Orange and Blue Observer, (when it actually had writers who could write well), was the only paper outside of the Jewish community that covered what was going on with the anti-Israel activism on campus.

So, what is UIUC like these days? I know that when the PRC, GEO, and other campus organizations held their sit-ins, die-ins, encampments, BOT meeting disruptions, that the campus police and administration cowtowed to their every demands. I wonder if it was a pro-life group protesting outside of McKinley Health Center, whether they would be treated with the same respect. Hell, GEO was ordering pizzas on the BOT office phone during their 2000 Henry Administration Building take over, and the U of I police were bringing the pizzas up to the demonstrators! Where was a CPRB when you needed one? (Sarcastic comment)

Any words, Bambanek, Dan Fielding???

The famous Karl Rove has stepped down. For good or ill, Karl Rove was a genius in his own right. Securing two victories for President

Bush, and for the first time since the New Deal, orchestrating the 2002 midterm elections where the President's party gained seats in

Congress.

What are folks thoughts on the stepping down of Rove?

hey folks,

First, i would like to explain why my blog in reference to employment referrals was deleted. It was deleted by Robert Dunn since i realized that i was in error for that post. Gordy had nothing to do with any blogs getting deleted, it was of my own volition. Gordy  has explained to me that folks should not delete their own blogs since it makes it look like that IP is deleting and censoring others.

I apologize for the confusion! Please let this go and move on from here!

Sincerely,

Robert Dunn

On the morning of Thursday, June 26, 2007, i spent 3 hours riding along with an Urbana Police Officer. Unfortunately, i am bad with names on the first time meeting.

Before we left the station, he gave me a form to sign. This was a no-hold harm waiver. I was informed that i was taking my life into my hands by doing this ride-along and that i would agree to not hold the Department responsible if i was hurt, shot, or killed during the time i was with the officer. I read it over, signed it, and turned it over to the department secretary.

We then went down to the basement where i was given a vest. I guess this was semi-bullet proof. Of we went. His beat was mostly Southeast Urbana, closest to the SunnyCrest area, and the Scottswood area as well. From what i saw in the Scottswood area troubled me. There was a call of a kid walking back and forth in front of someones residence. Even though the kid was just taking a walk, someone called the police. Even though the kid was not doing any harm, one has to wonder, Why the hell is this kid walking the streets without any adult supervision? We then got a call about a runaway in the area. We found the girl that fit the description that we were given. However, she was not a runaway. Apparently, her "friend" was the run-away and her friend threatened to beat up this other girl. She asked the Officer and the Sgt. as well to arrest her or put the cuffs on her to make it appear that she was being arrested. From what i learned, it is a badge of honor to be arrested in some neighborhoods. How sad! I always thought and still think that it would be humiliating to be carried out in handcuffs in front of everyone! If the folks are not carried out in handcuffs or arrested while they are cursing at the police, they are looked upon as snitches and wimps. I was then informed that i should not be alarmed if residents are hostile to us. The officer gave everyone a friendly wave, and yet received verbal abuse and middle fingers. He said that he was told by some of the residents that it was not a personal thing but a survival tool! If they are not seen as hostile to the police, they are treated with suspicion as a narc or "sellout." When i asked if having African American officers patrol the black neighborhoods would help out, he said that it would be worse for them. The Black officers are first seen as someone that criminals can strike deals with because, "its a brother." However, when the officer upholds the law, they are called "race traitors, Uncle Toms, etc." From what i saw, the black community was not being terrorized at all by the Urbana Police Department, but many law-abiding members of the Black Community came up and were extremely friendly and were asking for more help to deal with the gangbangers, drug dealers, and other thugs.

We then dealt with a dispute about a fight that got physical. The officer talked it over with the two sides and it became resolved without any arrests or handcuffs being used.

The next event really showed me what a cop goes through. We received a report that an ex-employee of the Freedom station on Vine Street threatened to rob the place. We speed to the area, and i started to tense up. I became utterly afraid that the alleged robber had a gun. I quickly prayed that it was just a threat. Fortunately he was not there. I pray that he is caught!

Police go through that feeling everyday. For that split moment, i knew what it was like for an officer.

Afterwords, we went to lunch at Skullies on Washington and Cottage Grove. Great place, i recommend it to everyone!

From what i experienced, i can say with full confidence that this civilian review board and the constant bashing of the police from the Far-Left is hogwash. The Urbana Police Department is not a racist death squad, nor are other police dpts! The fact that there are more police in black neighborhoods maybe because of the simple fact that more crimes are committed in black neighborhoods. Also, it is other black folks who call the police, not racist white people. I am going to challenge Charlie Whyte,

Danielle Chenowyth, Robert Lewish, Dennis Roberts, Brandon Bowersox, and Mayor Prussing to go on a ride-along with the same department that they say how much they love and respect, yet want to restrict them!

With that, because of what i experienced yesterday morning, i am in full opposition to any "civilian review board" and stand behind to the fullest extent the brave men and women

of the Urbana Police Department!

Robert Dunn

Its time to take back Urbana from the Far-Left! I am doing research on the possibility of running for the Urbana City Council in 2009. I know its a little less than two years away, but from the latest shenanigans of the City Council, minus two, (Heather Stevenson, and Lynne Barnes) the Urbana City Council has shown that it does not represent Urbana, but a tiny fringe around the UCIMC! I am opposed to the creation of this Civilian Review Board, because every instance of police misconduct cited has been from Champaign or the County, none from Urbana!

The only instance was the Kurt Hjort case, which was dealt with internally and Officer Hjort is no longer on the force! What are people's recommendations for a possible run? I for one would like to reform the ward/alderman structure. It is so much like the old way of doing city government that brought about Boss Tweed! I also think that local elections should be non-partisan! Why is Urbana, the only City government with partisan elections. I have not found any other outside of major cities like Chicago where partisan elections take place. Heather Stevenson has told me that there are many Democrats in her ward who are infuriated with the kookiness of the current council and they feel that they have no voice on there, even though its a vastly Democratic council. My election would be nonpartisan, because it would be extremely difficult to just rely on loyal GOP voters since we are so spread out and sometimes, few and far between. What other issues besides, the outrageous property taxes, unfriendly business environment, ridiculous resolutions that have nothing to do with Urbana, like the anti-war resolution, and finally the CPRB! Could people provide me with pointers and issues as well.

One interesting thing, is that hardly anyone in my ward which is Ward 5, supposedly represented by Dennis Roberts (D) have any clue who he is? Isn't that kind of bad that the people whom you represent have no clue who you are? The people in Ward 5 also do not know what is going on in Council and how their local taxes are being used?

Could somepeople from Urbana speak up to this? Is it like this in other wards? We really need to start something going! I came up with an ad hoc group called "Take Back Urbana!" It is for people fed up with a City Council and Mayor who caters to only a small activist fringe in the city. It is not a group of Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, or liberals! It is going to be a group of citizens who are tired of the way things are being run at city hall. If any Urbana resident on here is interested, let me know. Maybe we could meet at the Courier. Love that place! Pick a time that works for folks, and tell others!

ok, i just got word of a major incident involving the College Republicans at University of California Riverside.

My friend was with her boyfriend at a 4th of July party that various CR clubs were hosting. There were heavy amounts of alcohol consumed. One of her "friends" brought a loaded gun to the party knowing that people were going to be heavily intoxicated. After a while my friend decided to leave the party and reached for her shoes, when she was tapped on the shoulder and found her friend who was drunk by this time pointing the gun in her face. She claimed she had never been that scared in her life.

Later, it was revealed that after she and her boyfriend left, some of the CRs brought illegal drugs like cocaine, ecstasy and crystal meth!

These incidents are not uncommon unfortunately amongst the California College Republicans. During the California Republican Party Convention, the CR Hospitality suite was described in a local Sacramento paper as a wild party from a scene in Animal House or Girls Gone Wild!

Is this just California? Do the College Republicans at UIUC act like this? What about the College or Young Democrats?

I am scared for my friend, because she has told me that she is still having nightmares after that incident. Is it time that more mature adults in the political world put our foot down and tell these immature kids to stop doing this behavior, its making the GOP look bad!

Any insight about this? This is not a partisan issue. Is anyone familiar with the party scene of College Democrats or Greens, etc?

Please pray for my friend as well.

As a participant in the 4th of July Parade, i marched with our local GOP county organization. I noticed that WEFT 90.1FM was the entry before us. The station manager had a bullhorn and was giving the GOP shoutouts. The moral to this story is that WEFT is East Central Illinois' community radio station and should include diverse points of view as it does and should continue to do so. Any coup attempt to make WEFT a more Left station will certainly cause WEFT to lose donations during pledge drives.

I encourage everyone on Illinipundit to join WEFT and make sure that it stays as a community radio station, and not the second IMC.

Robert Dunn