Tag Archives: Chicago Tribune

April 8, 2013 · 1:55 PM

Westboro Baptist Church Pickets Roger ‘F@g Enabler’ Ebert’s Funeral

Anti-LGBT Westboro Baptist Church to picket movie critic Roger Ebert's funeral.

Anti-LGBT Westboro Baptist Church to picket movie critic Roger Ebert’s funeral.

Someone honestly needs to organize a picket against Westboro Baptist Church and their insidious hatred.  They are idiotic publicity hounds that have no real agenda except getting their name in a couple of news cycles on a regular basis…

Addicting Info

As fans mourn the passing of celebrated film critic Roger Ebert, Westboro Baptist Church is once again putting the “fun” in “funeral.” According to the Hollywood Reporter, the vehemently anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church sent out a press release yesterday announcing their plans to picket Ebert’s funeral because, “God hates f@g-enablers.”

Apparently the folks at Westboro didn’t like it when Ebert tweeted a link to Jeff Chu’s Salon article, “My Day At Westboro Baptist: ‘Yes Jesus hates you,‘ back on March 25th while he was still alive:

Chu is a gay Christian writer, and the author of “Does Jesus Really Love Me?: A Gay Christian’s Pilgrimage in Search of God in America.” Ebert’s tweet read: “Just another day at Westboro Baptist.http://dld.bz/cs74b.” The Topeka, KS-based Westboro Baptist Church is known for hating gays (theirWeb site URL says God hates them, too) and for protesting at the funerals of thousands of gay advocates, public figures, members of the military, and others with the misfortune to run afoul of them. According to their Web site, they have disrespected the dead at 50,197 funerals so far.

Ebert was a beloved American journalist, film critic, and writer who had been living with cancer of the thyroid glands since 2002, and passed away at age 70 on April 4th, 2013. He and his dearly departed colleague, Gene Siskel, pioneered movie reviews for the modern age starting in 1986 with the thumbs up/thumbs down format of their long-running At The Movies television series. His funeral was held this morning, April 8th, at Holy Names Cathedral in Chicago, IL. Since the folks at Westboro are equal opportunity haters, their press release refers to this Catholic church as “PREISTS [sic] RAPE BOYS,” and further twist the knife of their contempt by misspelling the word “priests.” Either that, or they’re just no good at spelling.

The Chicago Tribune reported that people started lining up early on this cold, rainy morning to pay their respects. First in line was a 27-year-old admirer and film critic for Hollywood-Chicago — aptly named Matt Fagerholm — who said:

He was inspirational, both in terms of his depth of knowledge about film and his wisdom about life. He was always a joy to talk to, always so funny. I’m inspired by his life force, by his ability to keep going.

The Chicago Tribune also reported that as the funeral procession solemnly marched up the main aisle of Holy Name Cathedral, the choir sang, ”God has smiled on me, he has set me free.” If the folks from Westboro Baptist Church could hear the lyrics as they shivered outside in the freezing rain, they surely would have been gnashing their teeth. Well wishers are invited to send donations to the Ebert Foundation, c/o Northern Trust at 50 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60603. In addition, a memorial tribute will be held tonight at the Chicago Theater (for more information, click here).

According to Jeff McMahon from Forbes magazine, Ebert was America’s “greatest movie reviewer,”

Not because he cared about movies, not because he told us what to think about movies, but because he told us just enough to care and to think for ourselves.

The full text from Westboro’s hateful press release reads as follows:

GOD HATES F-G ENABLER ROGER EBERT!

LORD WILLING, WBC TO PICKET IN LAWFUL PROXIMITY TO THE FUNERAL OF F-G ENABLER ROGER EBERT AT “PREISTS RAPE BOYS” HOLY NAME CATHEDRAL (730 N. STATE STREET, CHICAGO, IL), MONDAY, APRIL 8, FROM 9:15-10:00 AM

For 22 years Westboro has warned the people of Topeka, Kansas & America that the policies of sin of this land have brought the wrath of God upon you, your houses, your city, your state, & your nation. American entertainment industry publicity leech Roger Ebert took to Twitterverse to mock the faithful servants of God at Westboro Baptist Church, just days before he received the horrifying summons: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: [now] whose shall [that silly vanity called a Pulitzer Prize] be, which thou has provided?” (Luke 12:20) This fool sold his soul for some fame & fortune, forgetting that God has made a simple declaration regarding His people: “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” (Psalms 105:15). Now the famed critic is in a new jurisdiction, where he can see the blessings poured out on God’s humble servants in heaven, from his seat of eternal torment & sorrow in Hell! It’s too late for the fool Roger Ebert! WBC will continue to bind those who still live in Doomed america to God’s eternal laws & Word, so you, like Roger, are without excuse!

Nostalgia Critic: posted a video remembrance about why Ebert’s so great.

Here’s the video…

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March 14, 2013 · 5:21 AM

Koch Brothers eye L.A. Times, other Tribune newspapers: sources

David Koch, executive vice president of Koch Industries, applauds during an Economic Club of New York event in New York, December 10, 2012. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Good luck with that, fellas…

Reuters

Charles and David Koch, two of the world’s richest men, are interested in Tribune’s newspaper assets, which include the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, according to sources familiar with situation.

Earlier on Tuesday, L.A. Weekly reported that the Koch brothers were rumored to be interested in either all of the Tribune company, which includes 23 TV stations and national cable network WGN American, or the Tribune newspapers. The report also cited “another rumor” from a Los Angeles Times editorial board member that the Koch brothers are helping U-T San Diego newspaper owner Doug Manchester finance a bid.

According to one of the Reuters sources, the Koch brothers are not interested in Tribune’s other assets – which include the broadcast TV stations. Tribune, based in Chicago, owns eight major dailies, including The Baltimore Sun and Hartford Courant.

Manchester said in statement: “We are looking forward to opportunities to employ our cross-media strategy in other markets. We have no partnership with Koch Industries or with the Koch brothers, and we don’t anticipate any such arrangement. If we were to become involved in the sale of the Tribune Company or any other media assets, we would be glad to comment at the appropriate time.”

Melissa Cohlmia, a spokeswoman for Koch Companies Public Sector, said in a statement: “As an entrepreneurial company with 60,000 employees around the world, we are constantly exploring profitable opportunities in many industries and sectors.

“So, it is natural that our name would come up in connection with this rumor. We respect the independence of the journalistic institutions referenced in today’s news stories, but it is our long-standing policy not to comment on deals or rumors of deals we may or may not be exploring.”

Tribune spokesman Gary Weitman said the company does not comment on speculation.

The Koch Brothers – worth $34 billion, making them the world’s sixth-richest men, according to Forbes magazine – would have more than enough room to make a bid for all of Tribune’s newspapers.

Tribune’s newspapers are profitable and estimated to be worth $623 million, according to a report by Lazard, its financial adviser.

The brothers are the owners of Koch Industries, a sprawling conglomerate whose holdings include crude oil and natural gas pipelines, paper products like Dixie Cups and Angel Soft toilet tissue, and cattle ranches.

They are known for their conservative views and on the Koch Industries website explain that economic freedom means that “government is kept small and limited to those activities that contribute to societal well-being, rather than undermine it.”

Other notable names such as Warren Buffett and News Corp’s Rupert Murdoch have surfaced as possible buyers for some of Tribune’s dailies. Aaron Kushner, the owner of the Orange County Register near Los Angeles, said he was “prepared to take a serious look” at Tribune’s newspapers in December.

The newspaper industry is once again becoming a hive of activity as several big city papers hit the auction block while other smaller newspapers have been snapped up by the likes of Buffett.

Tribune is the latest example of a company exploring a sale of its newspapers. The New York Times announced in February it was putting The Boston Globe and other properties in New England up for sale.

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January 30, 2013 · 11:28 AM

Teenager Who Performed At Obama’s Inauguration Ceremony Is The Latest Victim Of Chicago Gun Violence

Hadiya Pendleton, 15 years old, was killed in Chicago on Tuesday.

Another young life taken over useless gun violence in Chicago…

Think Progress

Less than two weeks ago, Hadiya Pendleton was leading her classmates in the King College Prep School Marching Band down Pennsylvania Avenue on the afternoon of President Obama’s second inauguration. It would be an opportunity of a lifetime for any 15 year old, but for Pendleton, it was her last. On Tuesday, she was gunned down in a park a few blocks from school on the South Side of Chicago, less than a mile from the first family’s home.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Pendleton and another classmate, a 16 year old boy, were both caught in the middle of a gang war. The boy was still in serious condition on Tuesday evening, but Pendleton did not survive:

Friends of the slain girl said King was dismissed early today because of exams, and students went to the park on Oakenwald–something they don’t usually do.

Friends said the girl was a majorette and a volleyball player, a friendly and sweet presence at King, one of the top 10 CPS selective enrollment schools. Pendleton performed with other King College students at President Barack Obama’s inaugural events.

In the last year, Chicago has endured a surge of gun-related murders, more than quadruple the number of homicides in New York City and 58 percent more than the number of U.S. soldiers shot and killed in Afghanistan. During the recent debate over gun control, Mayor Rahm Emmanuel has sought to place his city at the front of the push for reform, instructing the city’s pension funds to divest from any gun manufacturer and supporting more gun buyback programs.

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December 27, 2012 · 3:03 AM

The Battle Over The Obama Presidential Library: Chicago and Honolulu Both Want In

My preference would be Hawaii, but common sense says Obama’s Presidential Library will be in Chicago where he started  his political career.

Political Wire

Chicago Tribune: “Though Obama has not commented publicly about his plans for a library, every president since Herbert Hoover has established an archive in his home state to house papers from his White House tenure. That means the race could come down to Chicago — the city Obama most recently called home — and Honolulu — the city where he was born.”

“If Chicago is selected, the next hurdle would be to determine where the facility would be built. An Obama library likely would not open before the end of the decade, but already it is a hot commodity because of the prestige and economic vitality it would bring to the community.”

Rachel Maddow Describes Obama’s Accomplishments:

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May 23, 2012 · 12:45 AM

Shocking! 3 More George Zimmerman Witnesses Change Their Stories!

George Zimmerman witness

NewsOne

A few days ago, the news broke that Witness #6 had changed his story  in the George Zimmerman case. In a shocking turn of events, three more witnesses have also changed their story, and their new version of events will likely be damaging to Zimmerman’s defense ,according to the Chicago Tribune.

Since Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder, investigators had a number of witnesses who went on record corroborating Zimmerman’s claim that he shot unarmed teen Trayvon Martin with a single bullet in self-defense.

Now, Witnesses 2, 12, and 13 have changed their accounts, with Witness 11′s latest account being the most damaging. Witness 2 reportedly lives in the Twin Lakes community, where Trayvon was murdered. She has been interviewed by authorities three times. Initially, she told investigators,”I saw two guys running. Couldn’t tell you who was in front, who was behind.” She then went on to say that she only saw fists that she couldn’t tell apart, “[I] saw a fistfight. Just fists. I don’t know who was hitting who.”

In her second interview, Witness 2 added another detail, explaining that both Trayvon and Zimmerman were 10 feet apart. In her final interview, though, Witness 2 said that she no longer saw two people running, only one, “I couldn’t tell you if it was a man, a woman, a kid, Black or White. I couldn’t tell you because it was dark and because I didn’t have my contacts on or glasses. … I just know I saw a person out there.”

With Witness 12, who reportedly lives in the same neighborhood as the fatal incident, she said she witnessed two people on the ground but wasn’t sure if Trayvon or Zimmerman was on top, “I don’t know which one. … All I saw when they were on the ground was dark colors,” she said.

In her subsequent interview, though, she identified Zimmerman as the aggressor, after being able to observe both of their sizes, “I know after seeing the TV of what’s happening, comparing their sizes, I think Zimmerman was definitely on top because of his size.”

Witness 13 is said to have the most-damaging account to Zimmerman’s case.

He says that Zimmerman talked with him after the shooting, saying, “[Zimmerman said Trayvon] was beating up on me, so I had to shoot him.”

In his most-recent account, though, Witness 13 added that Zimmerman acted as if the murder was no big deal and then asked him to call his wife. The Chicago Tribune reports:

Zimmerman’s tone, the witness said, was “not like ‘I can’t believe I just shot someone!’ it was more like, ‘Just tell my wife I shot somebody…’ like it was nothing.”

Clearly, Zimmerman’s defense has a growing problem.

Witness 2′s account could easily be interpreted as Trayvon running away from a crazed volunteer neighborhood watchman with a gun. Obviously, Witness 12′s observations are even more damaging. She suggests that Zimmerman was on top, once again corroborating the prosecution’s claim that Trayvon was in the fight of his life, attempting in vain to defend himself against Zimmerman. Then there is Witness 13, whose portrayal of Zimmerman chimes with the idea that he is a crazed racist who thought he could hunt, assault, and shoot any random Black male at the drop of a dime.

With hope, Zimmerman’s trial will unearth the truth for all to see, but if these developments keep going in this direction — in addition with the news that Zimmerman was on mind-altering prescription drugs when he killed Trayvon — Zimmerman may not find it so easy to get off in the murder of Trayvon Martin after all.

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September 2, 2011 · 2:00 PM

Joe Walsh To Skip Obama Jobs Speech, Calls President ‘Idiotic’

Joe Walsh is obviously projecting about his own shortcomings.  The real idiot is Joe Walsh!

This totally unprecedented  disrespect for the office of the Presidency because Barack Obama is occupying the office is absolutely absurd and says more about the GOP than about the POTUS.

The Huffington Post

House Republican Joe Walsh, a Tea Party favorite from Illinois, will not be attending President Barack Obama’s Sept. 8 jobs speech, the Chicago Tribunereports.

“I don’t see the point of being a prop for another of the president’s speeches asking for more failed stimulus spending and more subsidies for his pet projects,” he said in a statement issued Thursday.

Walsh, a member of the House Small Business Committee, will instead be hosting a small business forum in Illinois. He said he opposes Obama’s eagerness to give another major jobs speech before meeting with more constituents.

“The president needs to stop the speeches, get out of his office and away from all the White House academics and start talking to real people out there,” Walsh said. “They’re the ones who are going to create the jobs, not White House paper-pushers and bureaucrats.”

Walsh’s comments come after Obama embarked on a three-day bus tour through the Midwest to speak with citizens about jobs and the economy. Obama stopped in Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, hosting town halls and addressing constituents’ concerns about the nation’s debt and high unemployment rate.

Walsh also criticized the president and his jobs plan earlier this week, according to the Northwest Herald. He called Obama “idiotic” while speaking to a group of voters in Illinois on August 31.

“How idiotic is this president?” Walsh said. “I don’t want to be disrespectful, but he’s going to bring forth a jobs plan next week. Think about that for a minute. He’s been in office for three years. He’s destroyed job creation systematically for three years.”

Walsh plans to return to Washington Friday morning after the speech.

 

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April 4, 2011 · 3:05 AM

Charlie Sheen’s Second Night Goes a Little Bit Better

Gawker

The first night of fighter jet Charlie Sheen’s national tour may have been an unmitigated disaster, but the poem-fingered Vatican assassin seemed to have, uhm, recovered in time for Sunday night’s Chicago show, which seemed to—the Chicago Tribune‘s Steve Johnson writes—”satisfy, if not amaze, concertgoers.”

According to Johnson, Sheen left behind the weird videos and and rambling monologues and stuck with the onstage interview, during  which he said he’d go back to Two and a Half Men if they gave him his job back, and said he was “wrong” to call costar Jon Cryer a troll. And, yet, a somewhat coherent show may have actually disappointed his crowd:

“I wanted to not go at all, then I read the review (of the Detroit show) this morning and it changed my mind,” said Bill Termunde, 26, a Wicker Park resident who works in marketing. “I wanted to see this disaster.”

Termunde and a friend paid $15 for $35 tickets outside the Chicago Theatre from someone who, they said, had made the opposite decision.

Sheen was, in a sense, bulletproof. “I’m not expecting him to do that well, or he wouldn’t be Charlie Sheen,” said Jenna Schaefer, a student at Eastern Illinois University from Gurnee.

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February 3, 2011 · 7:52 AM

Al Gore Responds To Bill O’Reilly: Yes, There Can Be Snow And Global Warming At The Same Time

Mediaite

You can set your watch by it every year. Whenever there’s snow on the ground, as sure there are children hoping for a snow day, there’s someone out there smugly shaking their head and saying, “Guess Al Gore was wrong about that whole Global Warming thing, huh?” This year that person was Bill O’Reilly and, this year, he actually got a response from none other than Gore himself.

It started with a moment on the January 27th episode of The O’Reilly Factor where the Fox News host asked why “southern New York turned into the tundra.” He then joked that he had “a call in to Al Gore.” Yuk yuk. Mega burn.

Gore responded to the remark in a typically dry and calm response. You can really imagine it being read in Gore’s voice. Don’t though. You’ll fall asleep and miss what he’s actually saying:

“I appreciate the question.

As it turns out, the scientific community has been addressing this particular question for some time now and they say that increased heavy snowfalls are completely consistent with what they have been predicting as a consequence of man-made global warming:

‘In fact, scientists have been warning for at least two decades that global warming could make snowstorms more severe. Snow has two simple ingredients: cold and moisture. Warmer air collects moisture like a sponge until it hits a patch of cold air. When temperatures dip below freezing, a lot of moisture creates a lot of snow.’

‘A rise in global temperature can create all sorts of havoc, ranging from hotter dry spells to colder winters, along with increasingly violent storms, flooding, forest fires and loss of endangered species.’”

Those quotes there are from a Chicago Tribune column by Clarence Page. Of course, since Page is a journalist, he’s probably not to be trusted. And he quotes scientists who are totally not to be trusted. God, Gore and company are such dumb dumbs.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to walk through all the snow (that’s right, hippies. SNOW!) down the street to get a pack of cigarettes. Sure, scientists claim they’ll give me cancer but I don’t have cancer yet, therefore I never will ever.

(h/t The Hill via Gawker)

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September 20, 2010 · 8:46 AM

Glenn Beck Mocks Michelle Obama At Right Nation Event In Chicago Suburb

So much for keeping the families out of his diatribes against Obama…

Right Nation 2010 came to Hoffman Estates this weekend, bringing Glenn Beck, Andrew Breitbart and about 300 anti-Beck protesters to the Chicago suburb.

Speakers at the event, which was meant to unify Tea Partiers, Republicans, Independents and other conservatives in a “massive rally for victory in November,” also took the opportunity to rip Illinois and Chicago for its history of corruption.

“Will you raise your right hand and swear you will stop sending politicians to the rest of us, until you get it right?” Beck said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Beck received a standing ovation from the Sears Center crowd when he took the stage, the Chicago Tribune reports. With his chalkboard behind him, Beck discussed many of his usual topics–Thomas Jefferson, the Constitution and God, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He also made fun of First Lady Michelle Obama’s anti-junk food campaign:

The Sun-Times reports:

… [Beck] ridiculed first lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to get people to eat healthier snacks like apples or carrots.

 ”Get away from my french fries, Mrs. Obama,” Beck warned. “First politician that comes up to me with a carrot stick, I’ve got a place for it.  And it’s not in my tummy.”

Continue reading…

 

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