Stories | McLean County Times

OPINION: On the Issues: An Appeal to People of Faith - We Must Vote!

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 30, 2024

As a man of faith, I am concerned when I hear that a fellow believer plans not to vote in the 2024 election. They are shirking their moral responsibility to God and the nation, which doesn’t bode well.

OPINION: On the Issues: My Advice on Two Local Races (Part 2)

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 29, 2024

Today, I continue advising the electorate on highly contested and critical local races. In Part 1 of this series, I made a recommendation in the Anderson vs. Chung race for Illinois House District 91, noting that Anderson is the preferred candidate.

OPINION: On the Issues: My Advice on Two Local Races (Part 1)

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 26, 2024

Two highly contested races are taking place locally in the current election season, and their outcomes will strongly influence the citizens of McLean County for years to come.

OPINION: On the Issues: The Dangers of a Harris Presidency

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 25, 2024

Every time I drive around Bloomington-Normal, I see yard signs promoting the election of Kamala Harris. I can’t help but ask myself, “What do Democrats see in this candidate?”

OPINION: On the Issues: The Real Threat to Democracy

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 11, 2024

The Democrat battle cry has become, “We must defeat Trump if we are to preserve democracy.”

OPINION: On the Issues: What America Needs to Prosper

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 11, 2024

America is at a crossroads. Over the next month, American citizens must choose who will lead this country – Donald J. Trump or Kamala Harris.

OPINION: On the Issues: County Board - The Heart of the Matter

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 2, 2024

Early voting for the November 5 election is now taking place. Following the primary elections of March 19, we found out who among the Republican candidates would run against Democratic contenders.

OPINION: On the Issues: The Democrat Big Top Circus

By Carl J. Wenning | Oct 1, 2024

The more I watch the Democrats rally around their clueless candidate for president – Kamala Harris – the more I believe they are trying to “pull a big one” on American voters.

OPINION: On the Issues: Why I'm Voting for Trump (Part 2)

By Carl J. Wenning | Sep 25, 2024

In my last On the Issues op-ed (Why I’m Voting for Trump, Part 1), I began explaining how I support Donald Trump over Kamala Harris in the presidential race. I noted that such a question should not be taken out of context and that there are several philosophical principles that the wise and learned will use to just the worth or value of one thing over the other. The first principle that I referred to was the lesser of two evils. Now, I continue with additional principles such as policy over personality, substance over style, the devil you know, and the test question, “Are you better off now?”

OPINION: On the Issues: Why I'm Voting for Trump (Part 1)

By Carl J. Wenning | Sep 23, 2024

A short time ago, I made a public statement on social media, “For those of you who say, ‘I can’t believe you are voting for Trump,’ I’m not just voting for him. I’m voting against socialism. I’m voting for the Second Amendment. I’m voting for the next Supreme Court justice. I’m voting for the Electoral College and the constitutional republic we live in. I’m voting for the police and law and order. I’m voting for the military and the veterans who fought and died for this country. I’m voting for the right to speak my opinion and not be censored. I’m voting for secure borders. I’m voting for legal immigration. I’m voting for the right to praise my God without fear. I’m voting for every unborn soul the Democrats want to murder. I’m voting for liberty, freedom, and the American dream. I’m voting for good against evil. I’m not just voting for one person. I’m voting for the future of my country!”

OPINION: On the Issues: Assaults on Trump

By Carl J. Wenning | Aug 13, 2024

On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump, the then presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican Party, survived an assassination attempt while addressing a crowd at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania. Without a doubt, that was the worst type of assault one can imagine – one that might have taken his life. Many have said that we might have lost Donald were it not for the grace of God. That might or might not be the case.

OPINION: On the Issues: STOP the Democrats!

By Carl J. Wenning | Aug 5, 2024

As the November election draws closer, voters are thinking about which Party to support through the ballot box. It used to be a knee-jerk reaction with Democrats voting for Democrats and Republicans voting for Republicans. With a questionable Democrat presidential candidate and the Party leaving its membership behind to embrace progressivism, many Democrats are now reconsidering. They are (or should be) looking at what Democrats have done to this nation over the past three and a half years. I want to offer some advice by providing an analysis. (Click on the title above to continue reading if necessary.)

OPINION: On the Issues: Goals, Challenges, and Community Impact

By Carl J. Wenning | Jul 29, 2024

Is there any hope for change in our state? What can single individuals do to stop the decline? It begins right here in McLean County. Your local Republican Party – the McLean County Republicans (MCGOP) – represents your conservative values and promotes and retains conservative elected officials. We can hold decision-makers accountable to our community. The constant goal is to replace progressive politicians at all levels of government – local, state, and national. Successful change can come through the support of our local party organization.

OPINION: On the Issues: What Republicans Stand For

By Carl J. Wenning | Jul 5, 2024

In many of my recent columns, I have focused on what Democrats favor. It has been pretty much everything Republicans oppose. So, voters have plenty of good reasons NOT to vote for Democrats. But what are the reasons for voters to support Republicans? With this column, I’m making the first of several efforts to explain what Republicans stand for. I will explain why our candidates deserve your financial support and vote.

OPINION: On the Issues: Democrats Trawling for Votes

By Carl J. Wenning | Jul 1, 2024

According to a recent survey by the Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee, President Biden has had numerous “victories” during his term. They list most of these “victories” as half-truths or misleading statements in a recent flyer, hoping that uninformed voters will swallow these claims hook, line, and sinker. In perpetrating such misinformation, they expect to reel in barely living fish – what I would call low-information and low-propensity voters. It’s time for some fact-checking. Let’s examine these claims and shine the light of truth on each.

OPINION: On the Issues: Paradoxical Support for the Democrat Party (Part 2)

By Carl J. Wenning | Jun 17, 2024

In my last On the Issues op-ed (Paradoxical Support for the Democrat Party – Part 1), I noted that many aspects of the Democrat Party platform are at odds with the values of the conventional Christian community. In Part 2 of this essay, I’ll address why I believe it is that some liberal Christians hold progressive positions on specific issues despite the apparent contradiction with traditional conservative Christian beliefs.

OPINION: On the Issues: Paradoxical Support for the Democrat Party (Part 1)

By Carl J. Wenning | Jun 12, 2024

Almost every Sunday morning, in the parking lot outside of my church, I see bumper stickers supporting candidates or policies of the progressive Left.

OPINION: On the Issues: In the Balance and Found Wanting

By Carl J. Wenning | Jun 3, 2024

The autumn presidential election season is fast approaching. In addition to the office of president, in November, we are voting for congressional representatives and, in some states, senators.

OPINION: On the Issues: “By their fruits you will know them.”

By Carl J. Wenning | May 28, 2024

The saying “By their fruits you will know them” is a well-recognized Biblical saying originating from the gospel according to Matthew, “By their fruits you will know them.

OPINION: On the Issues: "We have no king but Caesar!"