Congressman Mark Kirk - Speaking Truth To Anyone Who Will Listen

US Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) from Chicago's North Shore had this to say upon his recent return from China: "We heard across the board -- in private -- substantial, continuing and rising concern."

If it matters I attended grammar school and high school with Mark.

Tiananmen Square Massacre 20 Years Ago Tomorrow

Lady Liberty in Beijing's Tiananmen Square

Photo Copyright: Matt Groening
The Simpsons comment on Tiananmen

End Result

Students and Soldiers before the real violence broke out

Iconic image of man standing up to the tanks

Students and soldiers

A couple hide from tanks in the square above them early on the morning of June 4, 1989

During the month of May 1989 the world was treated to the televised spectacle of a freedom protest/sit-in/festival in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government brutally cleared the square during the night of June 3 - June 4 1989. I wrote about meeting two student leaders from the Tiananmen protests at the end of this post.

A Hint For Palast & IL 10th Dems

The other day I wrote about the pathetic Democrats of Chicago's North Shore who congregate on Ellen's 10th Congressional District Blog and their bazaar fascination with Greg Palast, a dippy BBC reporter who cannot figure out the obvious. Mr. Palast blamed the recent rise in oil prices on President Bush because he was once in the oil business. Well here is a story that did not make it on to the radar of the American press but it is overly relevant to the world oil situation, China Fuel Crisis Spreads. They are experiencing violence in relation to fuel shortages in China, I blame Dick Cheney!