Hi, this is Lombard calling. Recently the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, took a trip back home on a small charter plane, and she got pretty upset when the plane had to stop to refuel. So, what she decided was, we the taxpayers of the United States, have now purchased her a private plane at the cost of $480,000 a month so she can fly from Washington, D.C., all the way back to her home without stopping. Must be nice to be Madame Pelosi. Gee, anyone out there missing a job, wondering about hers?

According to an article on Factcheck.org that touches on your inquiry, “The Democratic House speaker normally flies in a 12-seat Air Force jet, just as her Republican predecessor did. This rumor stems from a request by the House sergeant at arms, not Pelosi, for a jet large enough to reach California without refueling.” A comprehensive explanation is available at www.factcheck.org. –JAC

* * *

I was watching some TV this weekend. There are really a lot of obnoxious commercials out there. Please, stop with the TV conversion in June commercials. They started it two years ago, it was delayed another four months, they’re still doing it, just stop. Please stop.

* * *

Hey, Lombard calling. With this stimulus from Obama, why are we bailing out companies that have proven they don’t know how to manage their money or their business? Why not give it to proven winners, like Wal-Mart? We could given them $1 billion, for instance. They could build 100 Wal-Marts, employ 500 people at each one for 20 years, or give it to McDonald’s, another proven winner. They could build 500 McDonald’s restaurants that employ 100 people at each one for 20 years. The payback would be tenfold from these companies. Don’t give this money to companies like GM and Chrysler, that have proven they don’t know how to run a business. This is just like throwing money away.

* * *

My, my, my, how we forget. I’m calling about the caller who is talking about the Bush failed TARP plan. Well, yes, this plan is a failure, but you must remember who got involved and who belonged to Bill, from a small, one- to two-page document, to something over 1,000 pages. It begins with a “D” and they have a donkey as a representative. Must we forget about Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and everybody else who gets involved? It’s blame on everybody. Quit blaming one person, and we should stand up and take our own responsibility.

* * *

Hey, an interesting observation about President Obama. He just announced a $70 billion plan to bail out people who can’t afford to pay their mortgage payments. In that unveiling, he also said it’s time for us to all live within our means. Then why is he going to bail out people who chose not to live within their means?

* * *

Here we go again, paying and paying and paying some more. GM and Chrysler are asking for an additional $21 billion. Wait. I thought they were to develop and implement a revitalization plan. They could not because the union walked out on negotiations to stabilize an element of our critical economic crisis. They walked out. Chapter 11 is a good option. Chapter 11 is a good option for both.

* * *

I like the message Rick Soderstrom is sending voters by coming out so early and so strong in his campaign to become village president. I also like the fact that he is out in my neighborhood today in the cold and rain, knocking on doors and meeting residents. I haven’t seen Bill Mueller do that in any of the last 16 years. It’s time for a change and I’m going to vote for Rick. He seems to be a very focused man.

* * *

Why does the application for our city stickers need to have our driver’s license number included on it? They already have our name, address and license plate number. Couldn't they abbreviate it or use some other method? I complained about this last year as it seems it’s just an identity theft problem waiting to happen. What does the village do to safeguard our information?

Tim Sexton, director of finance for the village, addressed your question by stating, “We use the driver's license number for two reasons: first to determine the year of birth for those eligible for senior stickers, and second to cross reference with data we receive from the Illinois Secretary of State. As for safeguarding information, the village adopted a "Red Flags" policy in accordance with federal law to protect any personal information we collect and to prevent identity theft.” –JAC

* * *

To the person who keeps calling in griping about commercials, news announcements and weather bulletins on TV, the radio, the media. We get it. You are tired of them; we all are. But you have made your point, so how about griping about something else? Enough is enough, just like with the street lights. There are more important things going on.

* * *

As an employee of Villa Medical Arts and a longtime resident of Villa Park, I would like to share with all of our concerned patients that Villa Medical Arts is here to stay. Due to all the recent media, news, etc., regarding the sale of our building for the new library, we all know that was voted down and will be voted down every time it’s presented. I feel Villa Medical Arts deserves a retraction from the media, since it was an upsetting time for our patients. Let’s set the record straight and let our patients know that we are putting their well-being first and we’re not going anywhere.

* * *

This is Villa Park calling. What we need to do is vote out Stupegia and Illian and stop this stream of negativity that has stifled the village.

* * *

Please, people of Lombard, when election time is coming near, remember those who voted down, were against, keeping the DuPage Theatre. Also, pay attention to how the Arcada is doing in St. Charles, a very small theater and a small town also. Very successful, also. Keep that in mind when voting. We could have had that in Lombard.

* * *

Lombard calling. I live on West Graham Avenue in Lombard, and I had trash illegally dumped on my driveway on Feb. 23. Whoever did this, you are incredibly rude. Pay your own garbage bill and take care of your own messes.

* * *

Hello, Lombard. Of what are you afraid? I’m afraid that my country, our country, will be transformed into something we don’t recognize and despise. Where is honesty, patriotism, fair play, is it gone? Our leadership is replaced by fast-talking, dishonest, greedy people who put an ideology before the interest of citizens. Government of the people, by the people and for the people is trampled in the dust and forgotten.

* * *

Every week I read the Lombardian. When I read the Police Blotter, I see that more young men and women, mostly in their teens and early 20s, have been arrested for cannabis and drug paraphernalia. I believe the job of the police is to protect the community. Marijuana is a victimless crime, so therefore they’re not protecting the community by arresting these young men and women.

* * *

Hello, SPEAK OUT and all you readers. Barack Obama says he wants to cut out waste. He should refuse to fly in that billion-dollar helicopter. The other one was good enough. Set a precedent—don’t fly in it, don’t use it, don’t waste the money. The other one is, say no to Hillary Clinton. Who is she to be flying Air Force One all over the world? Barack Obama should put a stop to this nonsense. This thing is costing us billion of dollars every time she takes a trip. We don’t need a president who OKs this like Barack Obama.

For the record, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is said to fly in a C-32, or Air Force version of the Boeing 757. The president flies in a Boeing 747-200B, called Air Force One. –JAC

* * *

This is in response to the person asking about the DuPage County taxes, if they’re going to go down. I looked into it myself and found out that my taxes did go up again this year. Basically, you can go on the York assessor Web site to see if your house taxes went up, and it also explains why they did not decrease the taxes.