Wow, Frankie we hardly knew ya. Thanks to all the staff for so many years of good times.

It started as our gathering place for Wesley Clark, then Kerry. We had meet-ups and Drinking Liberally and later Saloon Democrats.

It was a place where you could just go and relax. It will always be a favorite.

I don't know if I ever want to shop from Amazon again. Here's what they're sending by email to all their Associates:

"We regret to inform you that the Illinois state legislature has passed an unconstitutional tax collection scheme that, if signed by Governor Quinn, would leave Amazon.com little choice but to end its relationships with Illinois-based Associates."

In other words, if passed, we'll dump you. Unbelievable.

See complete email after the jump...

Inspiring message from the One Nation rally in DC. More here...

The good people at Citizen Action/IL had their Annual Dinner at the Chicago Hilton yesterday. Congressman Phil Hare received the Lerner-Egan Award.

On the dais, from left to right: IL. Senate President John Cullerton, CFL President Jorge Ramirez, Citizen Action-IL Co-Director Lynda DeLaforgue, IL Governor Pat Quinn, Congressman Phil Hare, Citizen Action-IL Co-Director William McNary and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (partially hidden).

I don't understand all the chest-thumping by the GOPers concerning the Iraqi surge. They're acting like this was some brilliant victory -- and maybe it would have been if we hadn't been told almost four years earlier that the mission was already accomplished or that even earlier, that this whole thing would be a cakewalk. So sure the Iraqi surge was a brilliant victory -- but only if we ignore all the events leading up to it.

It's a little like driving in a ditch and then patting yourself on the back for the great job you did getting out of it.

Photos from the County Chair Breakfast and then the Rally at the State Fair later on.

Get well soon, Senator Durbin! We all rely on you.

David Waldman over at the Orange Satan nicely defines the frustration House members must feel living in an era:

... during which the Senate routinely sees over 100 cloture motions during a two-year Congress, plus countless holds and other related delays, not to mention being handed back the toothless and disemboweled hulks of once-ambitious legislation along with a demand that it be swallowed whole by the House, because it was the "best they could hope to get" given the 60 vote "requirement."

My only question is, Is there some sort of billboard somewhere in America keeping tally of all these cloture moves, holds and related delays? Or do we only see that when it's about the deficit?

http://www.layofflist.org/

http://www.nojobsurvivor.com/

http://www.unemploymentlifeline.com/

http://www.unionofunemployed.com/

http://www.onenationworkingtogether.org

[h/t Annie Lowrey, Washington Independent]