* 83% of Americans see the President's first year as a success; 11% see it as a failure.

* Americans are pleased with President Bush> '> s accomplishments.
* Education - 71% approve of the President's work. (ABC/WP)
* Economy - 64% approve of the President's work. 90% of Americans are also confident that the U.S. economy will prosper in the long term. (Gallup)
* War on Terrorism - 89% approve of U.S. military action in Afghanistan. (Gallup)

* In looking at who will better handle 13 important domestic and foreign issues, a Gallup poll shows that Americans trust President Bush over Democrats in Congress with all but two issues.
Terrorism - President has a 65 point advantage.
National Defense - 59 point advantage
Foreign Affairs - 49 point advantage
Education - 27 point advantage
Taxes - 24 point advantage
Economy - 19 point advantage
Budget Deficit - 11 point advantage
Energy - 10 point advantage
Creating Jobs - 8 point advantage
Unemployment - 6 point advantage
Social Security - 5 point advantage (very impressive)
Health Care - Democrat advantage by ONLY 2 points
Environment - Democrat advantage by 8 points

This advantage for the President has spilled over for Republicans, with the GOP enjoying an unprecedented advantage on the key issues.

The Republican Party is in better shape today for Congressional elections than in 1994, when they won majorities in the House and Senate for the first time in 40 years.
According to the recent Gallup poll, Republicans are in an unprecedented situation, ending a 20-year lead for Democrats on the generic Congressional ballot question.
A Washington Post-ABC News poll gives Republicans a 7 point lead over Democrats in the generic ballot representing the largest lead ever in the poll's 21 year history.
Enron
The public primarily sees the Enron situation as a business scandal and not a political one.
* Polls show voters are more skeptical of the actions of Democrats in Congress than of the Administration or the President. (Gallup)
* 51% said Democrats in Congress did something illegal or unethical; only 18% think they did nothing wrong.
* 47% said the Administration did something illegal or unethical; 28% think they did nothing seriously wrong.
* 29% felt that President Bush would feel like he
"owed" Enron special treatment because of contributions. (55% thought he would not.)
* On the other hand, 55% felt that Democrats in Congress WOULD feel they "owed" Enron special treatment. (33% thought they would not.)

Democrats - 6 and counting

Democrats say they stand behind the President in the fight against terrorism, however, several members of the party continue to break rank with their leadership and publicly criticize America> '> s war effort.
>
> FACT:
>
> "> We are shoulder-to-shoulder with [President Bush] him on this war against terrorism and homeland security. We> '> ve worked with him every day since September 11 and we> '> re going to continue to do that.> ">
> Rep. Dick Gephardt on NBC> '> s Today Show, 1/30/02
>
> "> Democrats continue to stand with the President, without reservation or hesitation, as he prosecutes this war and works to protect our homeland security.> ">
> Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, statement, 1/29/02
>
> "> Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Wednesday that Democrats are inclined to endorse whatever military action Bush might deem necessary against Iraq, Iran or North Korea.> ">
> The Associated Press, > "> Bush Touts Proposals On 2-Day Swing> "> by David Espo, January 30, 2002
>
> FACT CHECK:
>
> These Democrats join Madeleine Albright and Representatives Frank and Rangel in criticizing the President and America> '> s war effort.
>
> > "> Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) said Sunday that President Bush> '> s military and homeland defense proposals highlighted in last week> '> s State of the Union message amounted to a > '> police state of the union.> '> ">
> Chicago Sun-Times, > "> Rep. Jackson Blasts > '> Police State> '> Address,> "> February 4, 2002
>
> "> [Joseph] Biden suggested that Bush > ...> should be challenged on issues from military spending to the U.S. role in the world.> ">
> The Washington Post, > "> Biden Says U.S. Role Needed in Afghan Peacekeeping Force,> "> by Peter Slevin, February 5, 2002
>
> "> We have a budget here that's going to spend over a billion dollars a day on defense. But when we say we're going to bring these people to justice, we've already spent $7 billion. Whom have we brought to justice thus far? > ">
> Sen. Robert Byrd (W-WV), Hearing Of The Senate Armed Services Committee, February 5, 2002

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Happy Birthday President Reagan!

In honor of President Ronald Reagan's 91st birthday, President Bush signed H.R. 400 The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home National Historic Site legislation.
To send President Reagan a birthday message, go to www.reaganfoundation.org.

Longtime conservative activists Joseph Hedrick of Morton Grove and Tom Faber of Skokie have opened The Republican Assembly of Illinois Cook County
Regional office at 4135 Main St., Skokie (847) 675-6745. The office is fully equipped with computers, fax, phone bank and even has a free conservative lending library. It can accomodate meetings of up to 45.

Already, 2nd Amendment activists have made use of it to form their first ever ISRA local affiliate group in the Northside/North suburbs.

Pro-life and family values activists will be meeting there on Saturday, Feb. 16th at 3:00 pm to share ideas and make plans for creating a dynamic organizational presence in this long neglected part of the metropolitan area.
If you are from the Chicago Northside or the Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette,Morton Grove, Niles, Park Ridge region or have contacts there try to make
this meeting so that we can make plans to take back this important area from the likes of pro-abort, anti-family politicians like Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (ACU rating 3%) and her ilk.
Call for more info
847/675-6745 or e-mail Nilesrepublican@aol.com.
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Lake county RAI

O’Malley campaign Phone Bank.
Place:
TANSTAAFL
1445 Busch Parkway
Buffalo Grove, IL. 60089
(Mapquest.com has the best map.)
Time: 6:30-8:30pm on scheduled nights.
Scheduled Dates:
February
Monday 2/11 Thursday 2/14

Monday 2/18 Thursday 2/21

Monday 2/25 Thursday 2/28
March
Monday 3/4
Monday 3/11 Thursday 3/14
Monday 3/18
Phone Bank Contact: Guy G. Garrison
847-872-5402 direct / 847-567-5402 cell
email: garrison1776@attbi.com
Directions:
Busch Parkway is South of Rt 21 (Milwaukee) and Rt 22 (Half Day Road). It is north of Deerfield Road.
Busch Parkway is west off of Route 21. There is a green sign for “Extended Stay America” (a hotel) just south of the intersection of Busch and Rt 21.
From Route 21; Turn into Busch Parkway, go west about 200 yards. On your left, there is a one-story brown brick building with a sign that says “1401-1495”. Turn into either the east or west driveway and go to the back of the building. The office is 1445 and it is the very last office in the back of the building.
*******************************************************
Subj: Crisis pregnancy girl
Date: 2/6/02 11:04:55 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: hopkins777@juno.com (Sandra Hopkins)

I have been counseling a girl (via e-mail) from Manhattan and she is planning to keep her baby. She is wondering who is out there that can help her. Does anybody know some pro-lifers in New York that I could put her in contact with?
If possible, I'd like to hook her up with some "real" people rather than just an agency because I have been surprised in the past by the "help" some crisis pregnancy centers offer. Of course, I can say that tongue in cheek because I am the director of one:) God bless -Sandra Hopkins
*******************************************************
If you or someone you know lives in Dupage
George Kocan, a member of TAPROOT Republicans is our endorsed candidate for Commissioner of the DuPage Forest Preserve. Check out his website at
www.georgekocan.com and you will see he is the most qualified person I have ever seen for a post such as this. He is a conservative and can use your help go to his website and volunteer.
Jim

Referring to himself in the third person, he proclaims, ''Congressman Gutierrez is working in a bipartisan manner with his colleagues to send a clear message to anyone who would use terror and violence to advance their goals: America will defend freedom and keep our people safe.''

Sounds good. But the record tells a different story. In 1999, Gutierrez was pushing for presidential pardons for all 16 members of the FALN--the Spanish acronym for a terrorist group seeking independence for Puerto Rico. Eight were arrested April 4, 1980, in Evanston, where they were ''caught in a stolen van, carrying illegal weapons,'' according to Rep. Dan Burton, House Government Reform Committee chairman. ''They were parked near the home of a wealthy businessman named Henry Crown. It is believed that they were going to kidnap him. The only thing that stopped them was their arrest.''

The FBI identified the suspects as members of the FALN, several of whom were on the agency's ''Most Wanted List.'' They were charged with a combined total of 41 felonies, ranging from armed robbery to unlawful use of a weapon. At the same time, other FALN members were convicted in other state and federal courts for crimes including murder.

Nevertheless, on Aug. 11, 1999, President Bill Clinton granted clemency to 11 members of the group. Gutierrez continued arguing for full pardons. ''They were convicted of crimes. Specifically, they were convicted of weapons possession, car theft and robbery. These are not acts of terrorism. The individuals are not terrorists,'' he told the House. The House Committee on Government Reform said the issue was ''top priority'' for Gutierrez. Pardons? Clemency? As they were being released, the terrorists shouted threats at the judge. According to a federal transcript, one of them yelled, ''You are lucky that we cannot take you right now. Our people will continue to use righteous violence. Revolutionary justice can be fierce, mark my words.''

In a public letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, FBI Director Louis Freeh wrote: ''The FBI had reason to expect the violence of these individuals would psychologically and operationally enhance the ongoing and violent criminal activities of Puerto Rican terrorists.''

Gutierrez's view that the FALN members were not terrorists is news to Diana Berger Ettenson, who was six months pregnant when an FALN bomb killed her husband, Alex Berger, and three others in New York City on Jan. 24, 1975. ''They were convicted of crimes that helped facilitate the terror of the FALN and some were actually involved in bombmaking,'' she testified before a House Committee in 1999. ''. . . They were captured before more innocent lives were lost. Acts of random terrorism ceased after these people were imprisoned.''

Puerto Rican terrorism is not new to the Chicago area. According to federal testimony, in October 1975 the FALN attempted to explode bombs here, in New York City and Washington, D.C. An incendiary device was placed in Marshall Field's department store downtown. In May 1978, the FALN planted incendiary devices in three stores in Schaumburg, according to the FBI. In mid-March 1980, members seized the Carter-Mondale presidential campaign office in Chicago and sent threatening letters to 200 Carter-Mondale delegates and alternates in Illinois.

Clinton's grant of clemency was contro-versial. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and two U.S. attorneys reportedly advised the president not to grant leniency, according to a House resolution passed in protest of the action. The public was up in arms for good reason: The FALN was involved in 130 bombings; five people were killed, and 84 were injured. But Gutierrez's bad record on the FALN does not stand alone. After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1996, he voted against the Anti-Terrorism Act. And after the Sept. 11 attacks, he was the only Democrat to vote against both Democrat- and Republican-backed airline security bills.

With the Illinois primary six weeks away, and both parties vowing to defend American security, Gutierrez is touting opposition to terrorism. He hopes voters won't find out what he has done in the recent past.

==>Ronald Reagan--The speech