Saturday Soapbox
Jan Schakowsky, Ms. Party Line:
Last week, we talked attendance in the 110th Congress; this week, it's partisanship. Who votes with his or her party most often? In the suburbs, that's Jan Schakowsky of Evanston, who votes with the majority of Democrats 97.3 percent of the time, according to Votes Database of washingtonpost.com.
Bill Foster, Mr. Liberal Too:
He's new, after replacing Dennis Hastert in what's supposed to be a moderate or even conservative district, but Bill Foster of Geneva isn't too far Schakowsky in his early voting _ aligning with Democrats 95.5 percent of the time, according to the Web site.
Mark Kirk, Mr. Independent:
His opponents try to tie Mark Kirk of Highland Park to President Bush, but the Votes Database shows him voting with Republicans only 81.3 percent of the time, easily the lowest partisanship ranking of the suburban delegation.
Maybe we can change:
Barack Obama went after John McCain Thursday night, but not with the kind of nastiness that has ruined our political system. He was all about "promise" and pledged to curb the personal attacks. Even classier, McCain ran a spot congratulating Obama on his historic achievement. Yes, maybe we can.
Move the Choo Choo?
Des Plaines city officials may move the iconic Choo Choo restaurant downtown to make way for a new police station. Question: Why mess with success?
Strange how the figure was so exact:
It was a big crowd at this week's CN hearing in Barrington, but 5,100? How precise can officials really be with their attendance estimates?
Strange maybe, but good:
Whether the numbers were cooked or not, there were big turnouts not only in Barrington, but also for the CN hearing in Bartlett. And that's a positive thing, so let us quit being snarky.
On the eve of a new school year, thanks:
To the bus drivers who will safely transport our students, to the teachers who will inspire students; to the principals who can provide the discipline as and direction; to the support staffs that create welcoming environments, to the board members and volunteers who do more than we'll ever know.
Looking back at the Olympics, Part 1:
Here's one more salute to the stars from our area: Tamika Catchings (Stevenson High, basketball gold); Jennie Finch (Chicago Bandits, softball silver); Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky, basketball gold); Adam Harris (Wheaton North, 200 meters track for Guyana); Thomas Hoff (Park Ridge, volleyball gold); Brian McBride (Arlington Heights, soccer); Candace Parker (Naperville Central, basketball gold); Sean Rooney (Wheaton, volleyball gold); Jorge Torres (Wheeling, 10,000 meters track). Gosh, what hometown heroes.
Looking back at the Olympics, Part 2:
Can you imagine Chicago ever topping the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies we witnessed from Beijing? Hard to imagine it. But then, anything is possible if the U.S. artistic directors in 2016 include Steven Spielberg and other world-class visionaries. Just imagine that.
Looking back at the Olympics, Part 3:
Will you have spent as much time watching the political conventions as you did watching the 2008 Olympics? Which will you find more entertaining, and which will affect your life the most?
It's Saturday morning in the suburbs:
The first high school football games of the season kicked off at 7:30 Friday night. For those in the stands, remember, cheers travel farther than jeers.
Happy Labor Day, everyone:
On this weekend, let's recall Abraham Lincoln's words, "Capital is only the fruit of labor and could never have existed if labor had not first existed."