Category 5 yes 5 Hurricane Katrina is threatening New Orleans. ItÂ’s a big one.

The storm was moving west-northwest at nearly 12 mph and was expected to turn north-northwest. Forecasters said the weather would start getting rough late Sunday and the eye would strike land early Monday.

The President urged evacuation.

I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety of their families first by moving to safe ground," Bush said.

FOXNEWS Sunday reveals the democratic plan for winning the war.

WALLACE: Senator Dorgan, what's the Democratic plan? What specifically would your party do differently in conducting this war?

DUNCAN: Well, first, I mean, this is not about good news or bad news. You know, the fact is we need to get the facts straight about what's happening in IraqÂ…Â…..BLAH BLAH BLAH.

Nice plan.

Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. See got that right this time. Has an easy job pointing out But sir you have not answered the question.

Terror attack in Beersheba injures 21. Captains Quarters has more.

Twenty-one people were wounded Sunday, two seriously, in a suicide bombing at a central bus station in the southern Israeli town of Beersheba, Israeli officials said. ...

I see this goes right along with the Hamas “peace” plan.

We did not achieve the liberation of the Gaza Strip without this holy war and this steadfastness," he said, adding that attacks should continue until Israel is eradicated. Israel's obliteration is Hamas' ultimate goal. Sr. Commander Mohammed Deif.

I see peace by obliteration. Hmm interesting conceptÂ….

Russia gives US senators a hard time. LetÂ’s be sure and see that Lugar and the rest have to say when they get back.

Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Barack Obama D-Ill., were held at the airport in Perm but allowed to leave after discussions between U.S. and Russian officials, the embassy spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. The spokesperson also said Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., was delayed in departing from another Russian airport Sunday because of documentation problems.

OK long post. Also the Iraqi constitution will be voted on who knows Ace has his two cents here as well as good hurricane info and other news.

See below the break. From my Illinois Republican newsletter you know. Its good to see the party addressing these issues. See below for the party policy statement on ethics & other good stuff for those of you who are into that kind of stuff

Chairman's Update
August 19, 2005

· IL GOP ETHICS TASK FORCE PRESENTS CODE OF ETHICS POLICY TO THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE. In May, the Illinois Republican Party appointed an Ethics Task Force charged with forming a Code of Ethics for the state party. Yesterday, the task force presented its preliminary draft to the State Central Committee. The Committee approved the preliminary draft and decided to vote on a final draft in the first week of September. The State Party would like to use this time to seek broad input from everyone in the party. Your input for revisions are welcomed. Chairman Andy McKenna applauded the State Central Committee's action, "Since I became Chairman, there has been nothing more important that earning back the trust of the Illinois voters. This Code of Ethics is an important first step" Below is the full text of the draft, please read through the policy and provide any feedback to chairman@ilgop.org. Code of Ethics for the Illinois Republican State Central Committee

Prologue: Ethics, Integrity, and Transparency in Government
It is fundamental to the success of our republican system of government that all candidates, elected officials, and party leaders at all levels of government be independent and impartial, place the public interest above any private interest, and not give any appearance of impropriety. To that end, it is the policy of the Illinois Republican Party, and the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, to take a leading role in promoting the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and transparency in government.
Consistent with that policy, the State Central Committee hereby adopts the following Code of Ethics, which establishes rules to ensure that Members of the State Central Committee promote trust in government and public officials. The hallmark of this Code of Ethics is the simple truth that the public interest is and must be supreme for those who hold positions of public trust. The spirit and intent of the Code is to ensure that those who serve as State Central Committee Members do so for the sole benefit of the Republican Party and the general public, without any suggestion of service to promote their private interests. To implement the Code of Ethics, all Members of the State Central Committee will be required to disclose their financial interests and obligations and to submit to the Ethics Review Committee (as defined in Article One below) regular and timely updates to their disclosure statements. By means of these reporting requirements and other provisions, the Code is designed to ensure that State Central Committee Members avoid activity that presents any actual or apparent conflict of interest with their responsibilities as State Central Committee Members. In addition, the Code of Ethics forbids Committee Members from seeking or accepting for themselves or family members any special consideration or special benefits that relate in any manner to their positions as State Central Committee Members. Finally, this Code of Ethics signifies that Members take seriously their responsibility to the public and other Members of the Central Committee to comply with all State Central Committee policies and the law.
By means of this Code of Ethics, the Illinois Republican Party and its Central Committee commit to furthering good government and holding party officials accountable to the highest ethical standards.

Article One: Disclosure of Sources of Income and Potential Conflicts
Mandatory Annual Disclosure Statement.

Central Committee Members shall annually file on a prescribed form, on or before July 1 or within 30 days after being elected or appointed, a verified disclosure statement setting forth the information specified below relating to the Member's financial activity and employment for the preceding calendar year, including the financial activity and employment of the Member's spouse, and dependent children if the Member had actual control over such activity. If there is a change in any information required to be reported pursuant to this Article, the Member must amend the disclosure statement within thirty days from any such change.
The disclosure statements shall be reviewed by the Chairman, the Executive Director, one member of the Executive Committee and two additional State Central Committee Members, each to be appointed by the Chairman with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee for a term not to exceed one year and for not more than one term in any three year period (the "Ethics Re view Committee"). Members of the Ethics Review Committee shall maintain strict confidentiality with respect to the disclosure statements and the information contained therein.
2. Content of Disclosure Statement. The disclosure statement shall include:
a. the Member's employment, including the name and address of Member's employer(s), and any other entity and any position held therein, from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year. No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed;
b. the name and address of any corporation, professional organization or individual professional practice in which the Member was an officer, director, associate, partner or proprietor, or served in any advisory capacity, from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year;
c. whether Member is a registered lobbyist, and the identity, including the name, of any compensated lobbyist with whom the Member maintains a close economic association, specifying the legislative matter or matters which are the object of the lobbying activity, and describing the general type of economic activity of the client or principal;
d. a description of any activity on behalf of any candidate for elective office or relating to any issue that appeared on the ballot during an election in the preceding calendar for which Member received compensation, and the amount of such compensation; and
e. the name of any entity, including a board, commission, authority or task force, created by Federal, State or local law, on which Member has served during the preceding calendar year.

Article Two: Avoidance of Actual or Apparent Conflicts of Interest

1. Disclosure With Respect to Publicly-Acquired Property. If a Member or his or her first degree relative has a legal or equitable interest in real or personal property that is to be acquired with public funds, the member shall disclose such interest in writing at least 30 days before the date on which the property is to be purchased or condemned.
2. Disclosure With Respect to Businesses, Contracts, or Property. If a Central Committee Member or his or her first degree relative has a substantial interest in a business, contract or property on which a special economic effect, as distinguished from an effect on the publ ic at large, would be conferred by a vote or decision of the Central Committee, the Member shall promptly disclose to the Chairman such interest in writing before the vote or decision concerning the business, contract or property is to take place. The Central Committee Member may not participate in the consideration of the matter and shall be recused from any vote or decision on the matter.
3. Appearance of Impropriety. A Member and his or her first degree relatives should avoid accepting any economic opportunity or gift that presents or could be perceived to present a substantial threat to that Member's independence of judgment.

Article Three: Ban on Special Consideration and Special Benefits

1. Neither a Member of the Central Committee nor his or her first degree relatives shall solicit, accept, or agree to accept any benefit as consideration for any official decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion.
2. No State Central Committee Member or person related to a Member within the second degree by affinity shall be appointed, elected, or hired for State Central Committee business. This provision shall not prevent the retention o r advancement of any person who has been continuously employed in his or her position for at least 30 days prior to the election or appointment of a Member or Officer related to such person; provided, however, that the Member or Officer related to that person shall not participate in any deliberation, voting or appointment process relating to that person.
3. A Member shall not use confidential information for the purpose of acquiring or helping another acquire a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise that might be affected by confidential information, or speculate or aid another in speculating on the basis of confidential information. Furthermore, a Member shall not disclose confidential information, including Party matters discussed at closed meetings, information that is intended for a limited group, including but not limited to Voter Vault, or any other information obtained by a Member in the course of State Central Committee business that a Member should reasonably expect is intended to be confidential

Article Four: General Prohibitions and Guidelines

1. A Member employed by federal, state or local government shall scrupulously adhere to the legal prohibitions against engaging in political activity during compensated time, other than time off.
2. A Member shall not engage in any activity or transaction that at the time of the activity is prohibited by any law.
3. Any doubt as to the propriety of any course of action relating to this Code of Ethics or State Central Committee duties should be discussed with a member of the Ethics Committee.
4. Any questions concerning whether an economic effect is special or whether an economic opportunity could present a threat to a Member's independence of judgment, or any other questions of interpretation of the provisions of this Code shall be resolved by the Ethics Review Committee in closed session, after thorough review of the pertinent disclosure statements and any other investigation that is warranted in the circumstances.

Article Five: Enforcement

1. Responsibility for adherence to this Code and to all requirements of the law related to public service rests with the person to whom the Code and law apply.
2. When the Ethics Review Committee becomes aware that any Member is or may be in noncompliance with any of the provisions of this Code of Eth ics, the Ethics Review Committee will request the Member to remedy the noncompliance forthwith. If after such request by the Ethics Review Committee, a Member refuses to comply with any of the provisions of this Code, the Ethics Review Committee will refer the matter to a closed session of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may vote to request that the Member resign from the State Central Committee and, after such vote, will notify the State Central Committee and the appropriate Congressional Committee that the Member is not in compliance and has been asked to resign from the State Central Committee.

APPENDIX
Definitions of Terms Used in the Code of Ethics
1. "Benefit" means anything reasonably regarded as pecuniary or economic gain or pecuniary or economic advantage, including benefit to any other person in whose welfare the beneficiary has a direct and substantial interest.
2. "Confidential information" means any information to which the Member has access in his or her official capacity and which has not been made public or may not be made public.
3. "Contract" means any lease, claim, account or demand against or agreement with any person, wh ether express or implied, executed or executory, verbal or in writing.
4. "Decision" means the exercise of discretion by a Member and/or the Central Committee.
5. "Economic opportunity" means any purchase, sale, lease, contract, option, or other transaction or arrangement involving property or services wherein a legislator may gain an economic benefit.
6. "Employment" means any rendering of services for pay, or anything of value.
7. "Gift" means any gratuity, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other tangible or intangible item having monetary value, including honoraria for speaking engagements.
8. "Lobbyist" means any person required to be registered under "An Act concerning lobbying and providing a penalty for violation thereof," approved July 10, 1957, as amended.
9. "Participate" means to take part in official acts or actions or proceedings as a Member of the Central Committee through approval, disapproval, decision, recommendation, investigation, the rendering of advice or the failure to act or perform a duty.
10. "Person" means an individual, business, labor organization, representative fiduciary, trust or association.
11. "Fir st-degree" relation means an individual's spouse, parents and children, as well as the spouse of each of these relatives.
12. "Second-degree by affinity" relation means those related to an individual in the first degree, as defined above, as well as an individual's grandparents, grandchildren and siblings, as well as the spouse of each of those relatives.
13. "A substantial interest" means any economic interest of a Member if:
a. the Member owns 10 percent or more of the voting stock or shares of a business entity, or owns $5,000 or more of the fair market value of a business entity;
b. funds received by the Member from a business entity exceed 10 percent of his or her gross income for the previous year;
c. the Member has an equitable or legal ownership interest in real property with a fair market value of $2,500 or more;
d. the Member is entitled to a commission or fee arising out of a contractual relationship relating to real property or to a contract which would benefit by Central Committee action;
e. a person related in the first degree to the Member has a substantial interest in a business entity contract or real property as defined in subsections a-d abo ve.
14. "Transaction" means the conduct of any activity that results in or may result in an official act or action of the State Central Committee.

Even more good stuff.

Chairman's Update
August 26, 2005

·DEMOCRATS FOLLOW REPUBLICAN LEAD. After years of public pressure, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed medical malpractice reform legislation Thursday that will impose caps on non- economic damages for both doctors and hospitals. The legislation comes after Republicans took the lead on the issue, most significantly, in Justice Lloyd Karmeier's Supreme Court race in the Fifth Judicial District. "We are pleased to see that the Governor has embraced a major Republican priority," Chairman Andy McKenna said, "the Democrats have done their best to listen first to the trial lawyers and second to Illinois families. This is a positive first step in ending the exodus of doctors leaving the state."

·SHIMKUS REVISITS SELF IMPOSED TERM LIMIT. Due to an overwhelming response from his constituents, Congressman John Shimkus is rethinking his self- imposed term limit. When the Collinsville native was elected to the U.S. House in 1996 he vowed that he would serve no more than six terms. But under pressure from President Bush, Speaker Hastert and most importantly his constituents, he is rethinking the future. "Overwhelmingly they would like me to stay," Shimkus said. If he is re- elected in 2006 it would be his last term if he decides to abide by the limit. (News- Democrat 8/24/05)

· BLAGO SIGNS EARLY VOTING BILL. Governor Rod Blagojevich signed House Bill 1968 on Monday allowing for early voting to be implemented in Illinois. Critics of the bill pointed out that the immediate benefits will go to the Democrats who will have 22 days to turn out a traditionally lethargic base. "HB 1968 will increase the opportunities for the Democrats to manipulate the voting system," Executive Director John Tsarpalas said, "Republicans will be prepared to respond. The state party is expanding our ballot integrity program, unveiled in 2004, which resulted in uncovering numerous cases of voter fraud state- wide and led to multiple convictions." (Sun- Times 8/23/05)

·THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. More promising economic data came in this week revealing the dividends of the President's economic policies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 2.2 million jobs were created since July 2004. Job growth was reported in 48 states and new home sales continued to be on the rise at 27.4% higher than a year ago. President Bush has led this country out of recession and into an era where more Americans own their own homes than ever before, job growth continues to mount and total wage income is $75 billion higher than expectations. Illinois' employment growth continues to lag behind other states adding a little over 30,000 jobs since a year ago. (RNC Research 8/26/05)

Got two words for Shimkus. Teddy Bear. If any of you have read this far look up TeddyÂ’s quote on this for a trivia search. You need something to do.

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