
Ray Hanania
Hypocrisy weakens our country
.
By Ray Hanania
Despite the misleading rantings and personal attacks from people on the left, who believe stating “facts” is the same thing as “having” facts, former President Donald Trump is positioned to easily win the Republican Party nomination next year.
The only uncertainty in the election is whether or not the four indictments against him will be rushed through by the national Democrats quickly enough to prevent him from running.
All of the fundamentals of our democracy and now our judicial system have been thrown out of the window to achieve partisan political results. As in any indictment, people are innocent until proven guilty, and not the politically motivated accusations of the Fulton County Georgia State’s Attorney Fani Willis.

Ray Hanania
Despite the obvious hatred of Trump, Willis has a strong record in standing up for victims of crime, unlike her colleague here in Cook County, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Willis has declared that street gangs are responsible for as much as 90% of the crimes in Fulton County in Georgia, and she has announced plans to target them.
But even a good prosecutor can’t stay out of politics. There is a deep and wide canyon in America today, fueled by the excessive “holier-than-thou” hypocrisy of the far left and the mainstream news media, and the far right, which still can’t get over the fact that their party was taken over by an outsider who remains their most popular honcho.
Willis’ fight against street gangs surely inspired her to use a local version of the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) to prosecute Trump. The RICO Act has been used mainly against the Outfit in Chicago and the Mafia in New York, giving federal prosecutors the flexibility to nail the organization leaders who direct underlings to commit the crimes. The underlings may often get caught and charged, but RICO allows prosecutors to associate those crimes with the heads of the mob.
In most cases, the stringent rules of fairness go out the window with the mobsters when using RICO and bosses end up convicted just for being associated with the killers. Although in a mob organization, crime is the foundation.
Crime isn’t the foundation in American politics but some want us to believe that everything Trump says is a crime, but everything Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden or their cabal of allies say is truth and need not be questioned.
The bias fed by the mainstream news media and the far left is the fuel that feeds the loyalty among Trump’s supporters.
So thank the news media for Trump’s expected coronation.
This week on the TwoGuysonPolitics.com podcast, which I cohost with former Congressman Bill Lipinski, features Burt Odelson, an attorney with much experience in national politics.
When former Vice President Al Gore challenged the election of former Texas Governor George W. Bush as president in Florida in November 2000, Bush hired Odelson to stop the recount. That election mess was worsened by the issue of “hanging chads.” Gore lost.
Bush became one of our worst presidents, allowing lies to distort the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorism focus so he could get his vengeance against Iraq.
The manner in which Bush destroyed Iraq and brutal tyrant Saddam Hussein opened the door to the rise of ISIS and the spread of terror driven by religious fanaticism. For all his crimes, Saddam stood in the way of the religious terrorists. There were other ways to deal with Iraq that we chose not to pursue.
Many on the left tried to speak out against diluting our anti-terror drive and sending troops to Iraq rather than to Afghanistan, the real base of Al-Qaeda. But they were bullied into silence in much the same as critics of Biden are today.
Odelson gives a clear perspective on the four Trump indictments. The big question is can Trump, if elected, pardon himself? He may be able for the first three indictments, which are federal. But he can’t pardon himself in the Fulton County RICO prosecution, which is not a federal case.
America is no longer being driven by the U.S. Constitution, nor is it being driven by the powerful foundations that forged the greatest system of justice in this world. Hypocrisy determines who gets prosecuted and defines the “facts.”
Trump’s administration was in a constant state of turmoil that weakened America. He didn’t have the conviction to ignore criticism and focus on his ideas, many of them were good. Now we have Biden, who is basically a hand puppet for Democrats who run Washington, D.C.
Biden does his best to read the teleprompters, but just can’t seem to get it right. Our weakness has empowered Russia, China and more to take us on.
(Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and award-winning columnist. Read more at hanania.com.)
Local News

Dogs had their day at alderman’s office
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who let the dogs out? Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares let the dogs in, at her office on 63rd Street. Our Oliver was one of the…

Yule decorations light the way to Christmas
Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Today (Dec. 1) is National Eat a Red Apple Day. Apples are a superfood. Eating them will reduce your chance of developing diabetes, heart disease and cancer. They are good for digestion and even improve brain health. Organic apples are…

Catholic schools dilemma
Spread the love. After loss in Springfield, advocates search for a Plan B . By Tim Hadac After a clear defeat in Springfield earlier this month, supporters of the state’s Invest in Kids scholarship program—which includes a number of Catholic school parents on the Southwest Side—are searching for a Plan B. “What we do at…

Tommy Fitz, truly a good man
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound . The obituary said Thomas M. Fitzgerald. But to me, it was almost like it was referring to someone else, if only because I—like so many others in Clearing and Garfield Ridge–knew him as Tommy Fitz. He died suddenly, unexpectedly, on Nov. 15 at…

Mount Carmel beats Downers Grove North for 15th state title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Mount Carmel’s plan was to open and close the season in Normal. They wanted to open the 2023 campaign by beating then-nationally ranked East St. Louis in a neutral-site game at Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University, then return 13 weeks later and a win a state championship.…

Cold Turkey Trotting | Young runners heat up Orland Park race held in freezing temps
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The temperature may have been freezing, but the winners were not complaining. The 35th Orland Park Turkey Trot, held per tradition on Thanksgiving, started in 30-degree weather. And the young champs embraced it. Jack Krusinski, 16, of Palos Heights, won the 2.5 mile event with a time of…

Area Sports Roundup | Cougars get revenge on Marian, earn date with top seed
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Saint Xavier defense made sure to get some revenge for a couple of losses in recent years to Marian University. The Cougars racked up 10 sacks, 15 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in a 31-21 victory over Marian in the second round of…

Girls Hoops | St. Laurence stages huge comeback to win Beecher Tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer This is not the way to start a championship game. But it’s a pretty good way to finish it. St. Laurence fell behind Rich Township, 19-0, in the Beecher Fall Classic final on Nov. 22. While it could have been easy for rookie coach Claire Austin and her…

Bedford Park officer shot Sunday morning
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A Bedford Park police officer was in stable condition Sunday after he was shot while investigating a stolen car near the Speedway station at 6800 S. Archer Avenue. Police were responding to reports of a nearby car crash about 3:40 a.m. Police said a car reported stolen in a carjacking…

Property assessments released for Worth Township
Spread the loveCook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi last week released the initial assessments of residential and commercial properties in Worth Township. “I strongly encourage property owners to review their reassessment notice to ensure their property characteristics and market value reflect their home,” said Kaegi. “It is important to understand that assessments in Cook County reflect…
Neighbors

Dogs had their day at alderman’s office
Spread the love. By Mary Stanek Your correspondent in Archer Heights and West Elsdon 3808 W. 57th Place • (773) 517-7796 . Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who let the dogs out? Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares let the dogs in, at her office on 63rd Street. Our Oliver was one of the…

Yule decorations light the way to Christmas
Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Today (Dec. 1) is National Eat a Red Apple Day. Apples are a superfood. Eating them will reduce your chance of developing diabetes, heart disease and cancer. They are good for digestion and even improve brain health. Organic apples are…

Catholic schools dilemma
Spread the love. After loss in Springfield, advocates search for a Plan B . By Tim Hadac After a clear defeat in Springfield earlier this month, supporters of the state’s Invest in Kids scholarship program—which includes a number of Catholic school parents on the Southwest Side—are searching for a Plan B. “What we do at…

Tommy Fitz, truly a good man
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound . The obituary said Thomas M. Fitzgerald. But to me, it was almost like it was referring to someone else, if only because I—like so many others in Clearing and Garfield Ridge–knew him as Tommy Fitz. He died suddenly, unexpectedly, on Nov. 15 at…

Mount Carmel beats Downers Grove North for 15th state title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Mount Carmel’s plan was to open and close the season in Normal. They wanted to open the 2023 campaign by beating then-nationally ranked East St. Louis in a neutral-site game at Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University, then return 13 weeks later and a win a state championship.…

Cold Turkey Trotting | Young runners heat up Orland Park race held in freezing temps
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The temperature may have been freezing, but the winners were not complaining. The 35th Orland Park Turkey Trot, held per tradition on Thanksgiving, started in 30-degree weather. And the young champs embraced it. Jack Krusinski, 16, of Palos Heights, won the 2.5 mile event with a time of…

Area Sports Roundup | Cougars get revenge on Marian, earn date with top seed
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Saint Xavier defense made sure to get some revenge for a couple of losses in recent years to Marian University. The Cougars racked up 10 sacks, 15 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in a 31-21 victory over Marian in the second round of…

Girls Hoops | St. Laurence stages huge comeback to win Beecher Tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Staff Writer This is not the way to start a championship game. But it’s a pretty good way to finish it. St. Laurence fell behind Rich Township, 19-0, in the Beecher Fall Classic final on Nov. 22. While it could have been easy for rookie coach Claire Austin and her…

Bedford Park officer shot Sunday morning
Spread the loveBy Bob Bong A Bedford Park police officer was in stable condition Sunday after he was shot while investigating a stolen car near the Speedway station at 6800 S. Archer Avenue. Police were responding to reports of a nearby car crash about 3:40 a.m. Police said a car reported stolen in a carjacking…

Property assessments released for Worth Township
Spread the loveCook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi last week released the initial assessments of residential and commercial properties in Worth Township. “I strongly encourage property owners to review their reassessment notice to ensure their property characteristics and market value reflect their home,” said Kaegi. “It is important to understand that assessments in Cook County reflect…