"Where There's Smoke!"

The next time you go to the movies look around the theater, count the exits and see if there are any fire extinguishers. All of the exits should be clearly visible even in a darkened theater, and the immediate lobby should have several fire extinguishers that are easily assessable to the public for quick use.

Does the date December 30th. 1903 mean anything to you? Most people won't remember the significance of that date, but if you ask a Chicago historian I'm sure he will give you a quick answer. On that date Chicago had one of it's most devastating disasters, The Iroquois Theater fire. The Iroquois Theater was built in 1903, it was located between State and Dearborn streets in "Downtown" Chicago. One theater critic said it was the most beautiful theater in the city.

When the theater was inspected by the fire department the warden said there were no sprinklers, no alarms, no telephone, and no water connections. He was told nothing could be done as the theater had it's own fire warden.

On December 30th. there was a matinee performance, the theater was filled with mothers and their children as the Christmas and New Years holidays were being observed and people had time off. An electric arc sparked the fire and it quickly traveled to the ceiling igniting suspended scenery and curtains. A new locking system on the exits were difficult to open, and curtains blocked some of the exits. Panicked theatergoers crushed and trampled each other in their futile attempts to exit the burning edifice. Over 500 people lost their lives in the inferno, many were children.

Yesterday Indiana Senator Evan Bayh announced that he would not seek another term in the Senate in November. Bayh is the newest on a list that includes Patrick Kennedy, Cristopher Dodd, Byron Dorgan, and Lincoln Diaz. This recent development has dealt a body blow to the Obama administration that is resonating throughout Congress. All of these men over the course of the last year have attended "Town Hall Meetings" where they were roundly criticized about the rampant spending and unwanted health-care that the Obama administration has been trying to force on the American public. Bayh expressed his views of the situation by saying he loved serving the people of Indiana but he could no longer endure the heavy handed politics of Washington. Unlike the Iroquois Theater, our Congress has had a warning, they have seen the flames of the impending fire around the Obama administration. The panic is now beginning to build among those who face re-election in November, the polls are showing more and more rejection of the Obama policies and rather than face the possibility of defeat some are choosing to leave the political arena.

The "patrons" are running for the doors, the exits are crowded, and they are beginning to trample one another to get out of the inferno of the Obama administration. How many more will crash the exits? The flames are traveling around the theater yet Mr. Obama remains on the stage watching the devastation continue, waiting for the extinguishers that aren't there. Soon only he will remain, some will escape yet others will perish in the fires of Mr. Obama's failing policies. You would be smart to smell the smoke Mr. President, it is your administration burning!