Three good reads

PEORIA -- The repetition, triviality, even stupidity connected with the national election for president is stomach churning. Then along comes a newspaper that asks vital questions of the candidates instead of inquiring about their preferences in jewelry or underwear.

The answers -- and lack of them -- give clues to what type of president the person would be, whether the US will remain a democracy under the rule of law or descend into tyranny under that presidency.

Here's the link, from the Boston Globe.

On the local campaign front, congratulations to Bill Dennis of the Peoria Pundit blog for smoking out the truth about a recent poll that placed GOP 18th District Congressional candidate Aaron Schock well ahead of his two competitors in the primary election.

Dennis documents what appears to be push polling involved with that poll -- namely asking loaded questions to denigrate the competition and produce answers showing the candidate paying for the poll is ahead.

It's a sleezy, dishonest way to conduct polling, and Schock should disavow it, and learn to say no to such slippery tactics. Schock's campaign manager has denied it. Yeah, right.

GOP voters should take note, and consider what type of Congressman Schock would be if elected in November.

Finally, if you want to know what's wrong with mainstream media coverage of politics, read this -- a devastating look at the worst, wrongheaded stories of the year. Happy holidays.

--- Elaine Hopkins