Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Groundbreaking Ceremony

My dad is a proud marine vet who has been getting terrific care from the VA for more than 40 years. It is great to see this facility moving forward and what a way to honor Captain Lovell - a true American hero. From today's Daily Herald:

" But it was a groundbreaking ceremony this morning in North Chicago that had the biggest impact on his wife, Marilyn. She dabbed at tears as Lovell, of Lake Forest, and other dignitaries celebrated the pending construction of the Capt. James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, the first-ever joint Navy and Veterans Administration hospital.

"Jim has received many, many awards since flying his greatest space mission, but today has hit me the most emotionally," Marilyn Lovell explained. "I can't believe that his name is going to be on this hospital."

Set to open in 2010, the facility will be the nation's first joint Veterans Affairs/Navy hospital, said U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park. It will be on the grounds of the North Chicago VA Medical Center, which will merge with the nearby Great Lakes Naval Station's hospital to create the new facility.

"I'm superbly happy," Lovell said of the project. "I think this is a great idea."

When completed, the Lovell Center will serve an estimated 100,000 veterans, active-duty recruits or troops and civilian relatives annually. Plans call for the Navy facility to be demolished the following year."

On Experience and Education Kirk is a clear winner over Seals

Here is a comparison of experience between Congressman Mark Kirk and two-time challenger Dan Seals as reported by the non-partisan Project VoteSmart. For such a young man Kirk has a remarkable resume. Seals not so much.

Another reason to keep Kirk

For helping to keep local education programs running.

"A literacy initiative designed for Latino parents and their young children through the College of Lake County will continue after Congressman Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, announced a $335,043 grant from the U.S. Department of Education on Monday. The program "Families Involved in Reading Stories Together" began in 2005, but was scaled back earlier this year when the initial federal grant money ran out and local funding was used to keep the program going. "The need for this program is very high and we are thrilled to be able to resume it to its original scope and even expand it," said Mary Charuhas, CLC's dean of adult education."

Well fought and well done Ms. Clinton

"The light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be easier next time," Clinton said.

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?