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OPINION

Tim Johnson Wins Re-Election… and Here is Where He Stands

Posted to The Johnson Watch by Jake Thomas on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Tim Johnson handily won a return to his seat in the next Congress. His seat always seems safe despite the fact that legions of Americans are expending more and more energy on suppressing gag reflexes whenever the name of Johnson’s party is mentioned. Champaign-Urbana’s daily broadsheet has given the congressman a gushy endorsement. On the money front, Johnson has over $163,000 on hand, while a search of Federal Election Commission records on his challenger, Steve Cox, produces nothing. Johnson’s district …

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OPINION

Tim Johnson and Financial Services

Posted to The Johnson Watch by Jake Thomas on Monday, October 13, 2008 at 5:00 pm

Two weeks ago, as stocks tumbled and a sense of malaise set in nation-wide, Congress scrambled to get together a plan aimed at avoiding a complete economic meltdown. The gentleman from Illinois’ 15th district delivered a rebuke to Washington’s power brokers by casting a “nay” vote on the initial financial bailout package, which failed to clear the House. However, the sweeteners thrown into the revised package weren’t enough to keep Rep. Tim Johnson from casting another “nay” vote. A statement …

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OPINION

Earmarks For Champaign-Urbana, Too

Posted to The Johnson Watch by Jake Thomas on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 5:00 pm

During last week’s presidential debate, Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain managed to snare his Democratic counterpart into a long and testy exchange regarding the practice of congressional earmarks, in which McCain blasted their impact on federal budgets. Regardless of whether you think the practice is enriching or bankrupting the country, Illinois’ 15th Congressional District is getting it’s cut. Under increased scrutiny of the earmark process, Congress recently agreed to shine some light into the smoke-filled back rooms where power brokers …

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OPINION

Not the Republican You Might Think

Posted to The Johnson Watch by Jake Thomas on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 9:00 am

As energy prices continue to put the screw down on America, its politicians continue to fling about questionable statements concerning energy policy and push even more dubious legislation. Where does Rep. Tim Johnson stand? Johnson probably wasn’t chanting “drill baby, drill” during the Republican National Convention. He’s not a global warming naysayer. He doesn’t want to drill in Artic National Wildlife Refuge. He subscribes to the Midwestern orthodoxy on ethanol. He wants to stick it to OPEC and energy speculators. …

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OPINION

Introducing The Johnson Watch

Posted to The Johnson Watch by Jake Thomas on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 1:00 pm

Who is Timothy V. Johnson? He represents you in Congress. Although just one voice among 435, the man has leverage in deciding where your tax money goes, how (and if) the environment is protected, what laws will be applied to what parts of a woman’s body, who will be bombed, and what wall separates the lives of private citizens from the prying eye of the National Security Agency. Being a member of congress is an important job. So SP.com politely …

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Most Recent Opinion Comments

{username}

Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…

Posted by Local Yocal to the entry 'An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan on 02/03/12.
isaac arms avatar

Thanks for that, Louis CK.

Posted by isaac arms to the entry 'Pee stains on the Arctic on 02/02/12.
{username}

Your call to stay pissed is precisely why global warming fanatics will fail.  Emotion has no place in hard science.  The problem with the issue of global warming is that is has been pumped full of emotion and politics, and the science is becoming a by-product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366.html?KEYWORDS=global+warming

Posted by Louis CK to the entry 'Pee stains on the Arctic on 02/02/12.
{username}

Clearly the Postal Officials in favor of this cannot make an economic argument, as this saves the post office $0.  What is their rationale?

Posted by King Mo Lawal to the entry 'Please don't close the campus post offices on 02/02/12.
Jason Brown avatar

Earlier today I received this response from the President’s office (via e-mail) - Dear Jason: Thank you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts. I deeply regret the embarrassment that the anonymous email incident has brought to our great University, and the personal hardship…

Posted by Jason Brown to the entry 'An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan on 02/02/12.
{username}

This posting expresses frustration—where is the investigative reporting about the current situation at the university? There are news reports, but basically no investigation? Why? None of the potential news outlets seem to be digging, unless doing so in the quiet of the night—not CU Access, the DI,…

Posted by pattsi to the entry 'An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan on 02/02/12.
Jason Brown avatar

Thank you Childrss for the correction. I actually only know a very small bit about Miscanthus specifically (and not much, obviously). My support for cellulosic has more to do with all the various upsides. The stalks and husks of feed corn, for instance, could provide a secondary…

Posted by Jason Brown to the entry 'One word: biofuels on 02/01/12.
{username}

More on Miscanthus can be found at http://miscanthus.illinois.edu Depending on market demand, miscanthus CAN impact food costs if it becomes more profitable to grow Miscanthus on land rather than foodstuff crops.  While Jason didn’t explicitly state it (so I don’t want to imply that he was wrong)—it…

Posted by childrss to the entry 'One word: biofuels on 01/31/12.
{username}

“Doing so would leave the entire university community without a way to send mail.” Ever heard of a mailbox? I can tell you where some are. “The Green Street office is always busy ...” Wrong. In fact, back in the day, I would go there during the…

Posted by Q-Tips to the entry 'Please don't close the campus post offices on 01/30/12.
Jason Brown avatar

I still have a very strong belief in bio-fuels as a sensible alternative, so long as it’s done sensibly. The one that makes the most sense, in my opinion, is producing ethanol from cellulose instead of grain. It’s essentially turning a waste product into a usable fuel…

Posted by Jason Brown to the entry 'One word: biofuels on 01/30/12.

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Most Recent Comments

{username}

Nope.  It’s the back (east) side of Urbana Tire Company at 202 S. Vine. How much is a hug and kiss worth?  Do I have to take them all at once or can I break it up?

By Dave to the entry 'Boing Boing props up Urbana graffiti "artist" on 02/07/12.
{username}

FACT: Silverfish feed only on carbohydrates, such as starches and sugars.  They will not consume proteins or fats (the main materials from which human beings are constructed). THUS: That was not actually a human waiter we were conversing with, but rather a lifelike simulacrum created from semi-digested Fruit Loops.

By fruit_loops to the entry 'The Fifty Flip Experiment on 02/07/12.
{username}

nice fishnets you’ve got there, dan!

By secret_admirer to the entry 'The Fifty Flip Experiment on 02/07/12.
isaac arms avatar

is that illini auto on main?

By isaac arms to the entry 'Boing Boing props up Urbana graffiti "artist" on 02/07/12.
{username}

The geniuses at the News-Gazette site have it all figured out. This happened because we don’t have the Chief!

By Q-Tips to the entry 'Politics play in Illini loss to Northwestern on 02/06/12.
{username}

Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR?  It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.

By Brian to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/06/12.
JPSherrill avatar

Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban     Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com

By JPSherrill to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/06/12.
{username}

Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…

By Q-Tips to the entry 'Illinois bad, MSU worse, Izzo terrible on 02/06/12.
{username}

That’s what she said.

By kiel to the entry 'Illini pull out an ugly one on 02/04/12.
{username}

Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.

By Ryan to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/04/12.
Mike Ingram avatar

Love CSR.  Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy.  Sticky Bun is pretty nice.

By Mike Ingram to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/04/12.
Rob McColley avatar

If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.

By Rob McColley to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/03/12.
{username}

HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)

By Mertz to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…

By Kirstin to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
{username}

Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha

By Not_again. to the entry 'LGBTQ participants needed for research study on community involvement on 02/03/12.
isaac arms avatar

just confirmed:  there will be white russians served. the art abides.

By isaac arms to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
isaac arms avatar

big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.

By isaac arms to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
{username}

There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847

By Lindsey to the entry 'Weekender: February 3–5 on 02/03/12.
{username}

Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…

By Local Yocal to the entry 'An open letter to University of Illinois President Michael Hogan on 02/03/12.
{username}

I love the Guitars

By wilsonwasher23 to the entry 'SP Radio Podcast: Drew Phillips, Uncle John and local bluegrass on 02/03/12.

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