Right-Wing Wacko, John Bambenek, Tried to Hijack Illinois Constitution

Every 20 years, Illinois voters get to vote on whether to hold a constitutional convention to rewrite or amend our state constitution. I was more or less ambivalent to this (only vaguely aware the vote was goign to take place) until I saw this piece on Progress Illinois that lays out the discussion nicely.

To be fair, we have a dramatically incompetent governor who is unfortunately a democrat. He was elected after the previous republican governor went to jail for corruption that ended getting dozens killed. Republicans are in minorities in both chambers of our legislature as well as this state has long since realized the destructiveness of their ideas.

That is why it was with shock and horror I realized that a convention is being driven by the right and no one in the progressive community has called them out on this yet. It's not just any republican, but it is radically right-wing psychopath, John Bambenek, who is leading the effort to rewrite our state constitution. The name of John Bambenek should be familiar to the people of this site because he once tried to get the FEC to shutdown the Daily Kos.

Apparently, Bambenek has founded a group called the Illinois Citizens Coalition and even wrote a book called Illinois Deserves Better. And this entire time the press and the groups he has spoken to apparently haven't caught on.

Let's see how we'd fare under a constitution written by John Bambenek.

First, women's rights. I think this covers Bambi's views on women nicely. We'd be lucky if all we lost was the right to choose if Bambi had his way.

Second, free speech and press. Well, Bambi's forays with the FEC show him to be more than willing to use the government to shut down views he disagrees with.

Third, separation of Church and State. Bambi ran for the local school board once (and got embarassingly slaughtered, Alan Keyes style)... part of his campaign... you guessed it, Intelligent Design So science will get shellacked and we'll have Bambi's religious views slammed down our throats.

Last, let's talk about civil rights for those accused of criminal behavior. Bambi has been a vociferous supporter of the Bush administration's suspension of civil rights for those accused of terrorism.

Having a constitution written by John Bambenek would be a nightmare... the kind of nightmare that only begins with the burning of the Recihstag. Progressives everywhere need to stand up to prevent this coert attempt to hijack our state constitution before we wake up and its too late.

2008 Wanker of the Year: Blogosphere Edition

Once again, trying to outdo himself as the right-wing internet ubertroll, John Bambenek has proven himself once again to be wanker of the year. Not happy with his last year's wanker award over the FEC complaint against the Daily Kos that was not only criticized on all sides of the political spectrum, but unanimously thrown out of the FEC; he has chosen not to let his petty quest go.

Yesterday, continuing his ongoing obsession with this site, he registered an account an published his "conversion" to progressive politics and pledged support for Obama. He even managed to continue the charade long enough to get the one person who knew it was a troll to get "troll-rated".

All his right wing friends are, of course, laughing it up. The delicious irony is that while Obama and his many grassroots supporters are working to change this country for the better for everyone (including them), they are the ones resorting to childish tactics.

The stunt is actually a good illustration of what the Obama campaign is for this nation. On the one hand, we have a candidate that stands for hope, change and is trying to unify the nation. He is facing childish divisiveness (Hillary) and petty partisan politics (Republicans) in order to accomplish what is best for America.

On one hand, you have a candidate that wants to solve America's problems and build a better country for us all, and he faces opposition from people like Bambenek who peddle some bizarre patriarchal attitudes towards women.

While Obama is working to create an economy that benefits all, Bambenek and his fellow wingnuts are absurdly working for an economy that benefits only a few.

In November, the choice is clear... change or four more years of asshattery.

Bambenek Strikes Again: An Insane Rant on College Drinking

Everybody's favorite scary Catholic douchebag John Bambenek is back, this time with a column in the local campus rag, The Daily Illini about... *gasp* drinking at college!

Something is bizarrely tragic and sad for a 31-year old who can only get his trash published in college newspapers. I'm not sure that 30-somethings who spend all day hanging out with 19-year olds playing "journalist" has any standing to criticize, but that doesn't stop him anyway. That's why he can't even get elected to the local school board, everyone knows he's a nut... and this latest column doesn't disappoint.

Last year they said they issued 176 tickets for drinking. Congratulations! Have a cookie. More people got the clap last Unofficial than got a drinking ticket.

As usual, right-wing Christian nutjobs can't go more than 15 seconds without their sexual hangups and repressions coming out. Oh no! Sex is evil! This isn't the first time that Bambenek goes on bizarre rants about sexually transmitted infections, the only thing missing is blaming feminists (like he did in another column titled You are more than your vagina).

The real problem Bambenek has is that people are using their freedom to have a good time. It's college, you are SUPPOSED to have some fun. And because these kids have fun he suggest it's time to take away their right to vote:

Perhaps it's time to have a serious discussion about repealing the 26th Amendment.

The University of Illinois is a pretty progressive place, its a shame that people like Bambenek get a platform to spew intolerance and hate. At least it lets us see what these crazed Republican extremists really think.

The Conservative Lies About the Health Care Crisis

If you are like me and most rational Americans, you consider the health care crisis to be the fact that over 50 million Americans lack access to health care. Right now, hard-working families lack access to health care for their children. This is a national disgrace that any rational individual can see. Conservatives, however, are not rational individuals. They're the same people who think everything is rosy in Iraq.

When conservatives talk about the health care crisis, it isn't about the 50 million people who don't have health care. They are worried that upper middle-class workers don't get enough choices in their employer-provided health care options. Resident knuckle-dragger John Bambenek writes in his latest steaming pile of excrement, The Health Care Crisis and Why it was Inevitable, that the health care crisis involves high-paid IT workers like himself having to get insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield when they really want CIGNA. Boo Freaking Hoo.

Right now elderly people are dealing with not being able to pay for their medicine that they need to survive. Blue collar workers are having to decide whether to get treatment for cancer or keeping their homes. The fact that over half of all bankruptcies in this country are caused by medical bills isn't due to not being able to go to the doctor of your choice! Medical bankruptcies have risen over 2200% percent (that isn't a typo) in 25 years. Yet Bambi is trotting out the tired line that "liability insurance" is to blame. Yes, people are dying without health care and it's all the lawyers fault.

This country badly needs a national health care policy and the voters overwhelmingly agree. All conservatives can do is try to change the subject and blame lawyers. It also shows what is really at the heart of conservatism: selfishness. The health care crisis is really about them because they don't get what they want. This kind of foot-stomping childishness demonstrates yet again why America needs good progressive policies. The right no longer has anything to offer, and in 2008 we'll continue to show the whiney brats the door.

Knuckledragger Conservative Bambenek Defends Wife-Beaters

In John Bambenek's latest semi-literate rant, The Problem with the Men's Rights Movement, we see the usually diatribe those of us who are feminist are used to. "There clearly is a need to stop the abuse men suffer from the excesses of the women’s rights movement."

Oh, wah. Women have been treated like chattel for millenia (and in most of the world we still are), in this country many women are beaten into submission by men, and yes, men are still taking that abuse out on their children too. Bambenek says, "Retraining orders are far too easy to get without any evidence whatsoever..." Excuse me? Over 10% of women who seek protection orders are STILL getting stalked, assaulted and even killed by those they seek protection from. Women don't run to court for protection orders because things are going great! We go to court to protect ourselves from misogynist Christian Taliban like Bambenek who think women belong in the kitchen.

Laughably, Bambi says, "Activist groups, if they want even an ounce of press or public pressure, must adopt from the start that the other side is evil and wants to screw the innocent." Oh, you're right. Let's not talk mean about domineering men who want their women in the kitchen instead of in the workplace... let's compromise with those who want to oppress...

Now, more than ever, women need their rights protected by the government. There are dozens of Bambi's out there trying to ensure the patriarchy for one of us trying to stand up for the rights of women. Bambenek would deny a woman's right to choose, and if you don't think it matters what some insignificant blogger thinks, remember that Bambenek also runs for office. The last thing we need is a knuckledragger like him legislating Christian fundamentalism.

Bambenek Wants to Your Censor Video Games Too...

Everyone's second favorite scary conservative Catholic after Mel Gibson is at it again. John Bambenek is apparently taking a break from trying to censor the Daily Kos off to internet with the FEC and is going after... Grand Theft Auto.

MercatorNet.org, an Australian religious magazine, published a piece by John Bambenek called Unsuitable for Children (and apparently publishes a good deal of Bambenek's excrement). In this article, Bambenek repeats the usual religious right fist-pumping horror about violent video games. Except he takes it one step further... he goes beyond keeping it away from children and is honest about the agenda of the religious right... he's about taking it away from grown adults.

He says, "If some video games are too violent to be suitable for kids, what exactly makes them suitable for adults?" So not only does Bambenek want to be the censor of political speech, he wants to censor video games too. Why? Because he's special and knows what's good for you, even when you don't.

It really is another fine example of a "limited government conservative" wanting big government to regulate what we see and hear. They're for limited government before they are against it.
Not only does Bambenek want to censor video games, he wants to channel Rush Limbaugh in downplaying Abu Ghraib. He says, "People may fault video game manufacturers for supplying debased entertainment, but they are simply supplying a demand. America was shocked by the obscene and sadistic images of its soldiers tormenting prisoners in Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison. But the dirty secret is that people across the developed world are gloating over material substantially similar -- but calling it private entertainment."

I'm not sure about what these religious nutjobs think, but most of us can tell the difference between a video game and real life. The rational community doesn't have to worry about subtle suggesting manipulating our behavior... that's the purview of blind faith.

He even goes so far as to say that Grand Theft Auto will make you violent and want to start cutting up prostitutes.

It is clear now why everyone in his local community can't stand him and he couldn't even get elected to the local school board... he's a straight out medieval religious nut.

John Bambenek: Big, Fat Hypocrite

Last week, John Bambenek made a complete fool of himself by sending a complaint to the Michigan Attorney General about us evil Kossacks using our voting rights by picking up a ballot for the "Democrats for Romney" campaign. He whined and cried that it is interfering with the "free assiociation" rights of the Republican Party by allowing Democrats to vote. That was last week.

This week it is a new week and John Bambenek has apparently changed his mind.

In both a local University paper and the Peoria Journal Star (as well as a bunch of other papers in the state) John Bambenek says it is absolutely essential that voters have open primaries.

Last week, he was up in arms about "unconstitutional" open primaries because we were using it to our advantage and Republicans simply can't do the same because even they know their party is pathetic. This week, he is singing the praises of the open primary.
Will the real John Bambenek please stand up?

Here is the dirty little secret Bambi doesn't want you to know, he's a big fat hypocrite. He wants open primaries in Illinois because he thinks it will help the fledgling Illinois GOP. In Michigan he's against it because it hurt the Republicans. Like most wingnuts, he's all for democracy when his people can have the advantage.