Kirk, Bean Recognized by US Chamber; Seals bad for business if he follows the leads of his mentors

Mark Kirk and Melissa Bean were honored by the US Chamber or Commerce with a Spirit of Enterprise Awards. The awards the Spirit of Enterprise based on rankings it gives members of Congress for key business votes. Votes are Chamber-designated "key votes," recorded floor votes on issues established as priorities by the Chamber’s board of directors on which the Chamber communicates its position prior to the vote. Members of Congress who support the Chamber’s position on at least 70 percent of key votes receive the Spirit of Enterprise Award. Here’s how Kirk, Bean and other Illinois legislators were rated:

Mark Kirk- 84
Melissa Bean- 70
Jan Schakowsky- 50
Dick Durbin- 45
Barack Obama- 33

Full info at the Chamber's site here.

While there should be appropriate regulation on business, creating a supportive environment for successful businesses, especially small businesses, is critical to our nation's well-being. Dan Seals is no centrist like Kirk and Bean and can be counted on to follow in the footsteps of his mentors - Schakowsky, Durbin and Obama and not be a friend to business.

Wish they had this when I was in school - Mark Kirk's Model Congress

From Sunday's Daily Herald

About 70 students took on the roles of actual congressmen and debated two Proposed laws, as part of the Tenth District Model Congress held Saturday and again today at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

Libertyville junior Emily Buehler was excited to attend. "I attended last year and thought it was worthwhile. This year, I really care about the subjects of the two bills which are being considered, so I'm personally interested, as well," she said.

The students, outfitted in business attire or dresses or suits and ties, participated in congressional hearings, "mark up" legislative sessions and heated debates about potential laws. The proposed laws included one to establish U.S. policy toward peace and security of the Darfur region of Sudan, and another to establish policy on stem cell research. Since students had to represent actual Congress members, it encouraged them to look at the issue from a point of view that may differ from their own, Buehler said. At times, the students stepped out of their roles. After all, it was politics, said Will McGauran, a senior at New Trier High School who was attending for the second year.

"It is highly likely that future members of Congress are sitting here in this room, and this will give them a jump start on the process," Kirk said. Kirk and congressional staff were on hand to guide the students through realistic committee hearings and floor proceedings.

What a cool way to get kids interested in government and politics. My own interest was spurred by the totally opposite views of my staunchly Republican Mom and my labor Dem Dad. What got you interested in government and politics?

Some quick thoughts on the Dem primary

I am a huge Hillary Clinton supporter. Have been ever since I met her while volunteering for Carol Mosely Braun. I believe she is charismatic, smart and absolutely qualified to be our next president.

And while we all know that racism is alive and well in the presidential campaign - so is the overwhelming sexism Ms. Clinton faces.

Do you think we would hear the deafening calls for Ms. Clinton to resign if she were a man? And don't suggest the Hukabee-man. He was statistically out of it - and Clinton is certainly not.

Tina Fey is right. B****s get things done. And nobody comes back like a Clinton.

I am so tired of the holier than thou attitudes of Obama-fans and delighted that factcheck.org called them on it:

A misleading e-mail has been making the rounds, alleging that Clinton has fewer legislative accomplishments than Obama, and that they are less substantive. We've had questions about it from a number of readers, and blogs have jumped into the fray. So what's the real story on the Senate careers of the Democratic presidential candidates? We find that the e-mail is false in almost every particular...

What impresses us is how misleading the e-mail is. Its anonymous author doesn't apply the same standards to Clinton's record and Obama's, thus leading to false conclusions about their legislative records.

Hmmmm - rabid leftists using different standards to lead to false conclusions. Could this be the work of EBG?