Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs Business
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago Cook County
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair  Cook County
  • Jesse Jackson Jr July 2025
    Jesse Jackson Jr. Launches Candidacy for Congress Civil Rights
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Cook County
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders construction
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield Business
  • Joyful reunion photo courtesy of Jeffery M. Leving & Assc law firm
    Leving Team Prevented a Father’s Wrongful Separation from His Child Dads' Rights
  • CTF Illinois Orland Park, 18230 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, IL 60467
    Hastings, Giannoulias announce opening of temporary driver services facility in Orland Park Baby Boomers
  • Emagine Theater Pink popcorn
    Popcorn with a purpose: Emagine Theatres brings back Pink Caramel Corn to support Pink Fund during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Business
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves announce 2025-2026 Training Camp Roster Entertainment
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast on James Comey, ICE Agents, Government shutdown, Gaza Peace Plan, Ukraine and long range missiles, and New York mayoral race Bill Lipinski
  • Five Individuals Charged in Federal Court in Chicago With Assaulting or Resisting Federal Agents Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Civil Rights
Ray Hanania column on fighting extremism and media bias, focusing on Bill Lipinski and John Kass

The fight against extremism in Illinois

Posted on October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 By Ray Hanania No Comments on The fight against extremism in Illinois
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

The fight against extremism in Illinois

Extremism is the real challenging facing America and Illinois. The fanatics on the Far Right and the Far Left are the real threat. The Far Left has the advantage now, though. But it’s important for voters to look towards the “center” and find the commonsense moderates. The mainstream news media is pandering to readers by playing up the Far Left and slamming the all conservatives on the right. There are alternatives you should consider

By Ray Hanania

Some people define those in the “political Center” as hopelessly optimistic because having commonsense has no meaning in today’s world.

I call them “Reagan Democrats,” people who embrace the best of Democrats and Republicans advocating a commonsense middle ground.

When you are in the middle, though, you are attacked and vilified by extremists who hold today’s world hostage to their political insanity. The Far Right and the Far Left have louder voices, heard above moderate voices of reason.

This past week I shared time with a centrist journalism colleague and a former politician who both have a lot of commonsense.

Former Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass. He was unethically booted out of the newspaper by jealous and untalented colleagues with Far Left, extremist agendas.

Ray Hanania column on fighting extremism and media bias, focusing on Bill Lipinski and John Kass

Once the voice of “reasoned Republicans,” the Tribune today is a rickety scaffolding of unethical contradictions. The Tribune wouldn’t know a good story if it smacked them in the face. No reputable fish would want to be wrapped in its newsprint.

The other voice of reason is Bill Lipinski, an iconic Reagan Democrat and champion of everyday people.

A former Chicago alderman, Democratic committeeman and Congressman, Lipinski used commonsense to protect the interests of homeowners in his ward and congressional district. His base was one of the city’s most powerful voting blocks.

Lipinski was one of the first elected officials I met when I entered journalism in 1976. He was always honest and upfront about his priorities.

I also was close to Kass, who was vilified by his own newspaper colleagues because he has conservative commonsense political views. Kass would often take on the Democrat and Republican Party sacred cows (more like sacred anorexic chickens) and his rivals (the “chumbolones”) hated that.

They attacked him personally. Extremists and losers who can’t debate real issues always turn to name-calling and demonization as weapon of choice. They are incapable of reasoned counter arguments.

In a column earlier this year, Kass criticized George Soros, the PAC financier who uses his billions to pretend to care for everyday people. Soros is behind some of the most extreme policies in America. His critics couldn’t counter Kass’ reasoning, so they demonized him instead, calling him “anti-Semitic.” Who knew Soros was Jewish? I thought he was Greek, just like Kass who never mentioned in his column anything about Soros background, religion or ethnicity.

The feeble-kneed Tribune editors caved in to the epithets, vicious name-calling, and bullying from the corrupted Far Left. Those same Leftists are navigating the once powerful flagship newspaper to a new frontier of insignificance. A Newspaper Titanic.

Kass is building his own uncensored journalism dominion at JohnKassNews.com. You definitely should check it out if you are interested in reasoned thinking. In a world where the mainstream news media embraces George Orwell’s “Newspeak,” the priority isn’t to educate the American public but to manipulate their thinking by recklessly managing and limiting the public discourse. They don’t want the public to hear all sides, just their own.

But like me, Kass believes the public is smart enough to see through the cacophony of an uncensored debate to come to their own decisions. That’s what the Far Left fears most. A public that thinks for itself.

The media seeks to bully people to embrace their narrow views by limiting what the public can hear.

Kass does a weekly podcast called “The Chicago Way” produced by WGN’s Jeff Carlin. I was on it last week talking about the assault against Christopher Columbus, and truth.

Lipinski and I also do a podcast called “Two Guys on Politics.” Quintessential Reagan Democrats (Kass is one, too), Lipinski and I banter about today’s upside-down political world.

He praises President Joe Biden’s past experience, but notes Biden is surprisingly making many mistakes. The withdrawal from Afghanistan is one of the worst. It has empowered terrorists around the world.

Thousands of container ships are moored in gridlock at America’s ports, which don’t have enough employees — many Americans feel Federal assistance is better than a job or working hard.

Lipinski had a great idea. Biden should have the U.S. Military to unload the cargo ships in order to jump-start our economy. It’s a great idea because despite the PR Spin, the economy is slipping.

Biden’s error is to focus on trying keeping the Far Left happy. That will never happen because the foundation of Democratic Socialism is enjoying an unhappy anger that fuels conflict. If they can’t yell or scream about something, or demonize or bully their rivals (the commonsense people) they are lost.

Listen to the podcast at TwoGuysonPolitics.com.

This country needs a new leader who can navigate us back to the center. Right now, none are out there.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter and political columnist. His mainstream political columns are published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers. His Middle East columns are published in the Arab News. For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com or email him at [email protected].)

 

SUBSCRIBE BELOW

Subscribe to Ray's columns

Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

* indicates required field.

 

Select Email Format


Two Guys on Politics podcast with Former Congressman Bill Lipinski and former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania www.TwoGuysonPolitics.com

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs - October 8, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago - October 8, 2025
  • Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair  - October 8, 2025
NPV: 25
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Media Bias, National, News, Opinion, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Bill Lipinski, Chicago Tribune, conservatives, John Kass, liberals, media bias, moderates, politics, Reagan Democrats

Post navigation

Previous Post: Paramount Theater opens new Iive theater venue in Aurora
Next Post: Ald. Quinn Paves Way for New Starbucks in 13th Ward

Related Posts

  • Chicago Wolves courtesy of the Chicago Wolves
    Potluralski’s Hat Trick treats Chicago Wolves to 5th straight win Chicago
  • Murder suspect Brian Cruz. Photo courtesy of the Lyons Police Department
    Murder charges filed for suspect described as armed and dangerous in Lyons murder breaking news
  • IRS warns public about scammers. How to report telephone scams. Photo courtesy of the iRS
    US Justice Department convicts Indian-based IRS scammer Business
  • The Orland Fire District responded at 6:51 pm to reports of  smoke coming out of the eves of a four unit townhome in the 10500 block of Illinois Court in the Eagle Ridge subdivision on Saturday August 10th, 2024. 
    Orland Fire District reports several 4th of July fires but no injuries accident
  • Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar
    Cook County Health awards over $14 million in community grants for behavioral health interventions Cook County
  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Leving team wins court victory for Dad and his little girl Chicago

More Related Articles

Congressman Sean Casten Sean Casten Releases several Digital campaign Ads on Reproductive Rights and healthcare elections
Tree damage ComEd reports wide outages in wake of wind storm Chicago
Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his wife. Support his family on his GoFundMe Page at https://www.gofundme.com/mdb4be Relief over Van Dyke sentencing Blogger
https://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/illegal-investigation-fact-checking-orland-park-mayors-claims Former Orland Park village manager La Margo files lawsuit against Pekau, personally and officially breaking news
Flying while senior. Airlines know how to deal with COVID Pandemic but not with the needs of seniors or how to deal with obnoxious passengers. Originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group May 12, 2021 Airlines deal with COVID but not the everyday travel problems Baby Boomers
Muslim, Christian & Jew discuss Jerusalem Nov. 12 News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language
    August 8, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs
    October 8, 2025
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago
    October 8, 2025
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair 
    October 8, 2025
  • Jesse Jackson Jr July 2025
    Jesse Jackson Jr. Launches Candidacy for Congress
    October 8, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders
    October 6, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme