January 30, 2013
JESSE WHITE'S "NUMERO UNO" LAUNCHES NORRIDGE TAKEOVER
Here's a blockbuster: Deputy Illinois Secretary of State Tom Benigno, Jesse White's chief-of-staff, who runs an office controlling 4,753 jobs, wants to be mayor of Norridge in 2013, a village which has 150 jobs. Benigno promises to work for free, and fit his municipal duties, here and there, around his state obligations. That means at least a couple of hours a week. He better work for free. According to his opponent, James Chmura, Mike Madigan, Jim DeLeo and White are bankrolling and behind Benigno's takeover attempt. Here's an overview of some other suburban elections, where duplicity, mendacity, comedy and audacity are not in short supply.Full Article...
January 23, 2013
"TOP EIGHT LIST" OF ILLINOIS' MOST TIRESOME POLITICIANS
This equation describes this column: T8.IL.8xT.pol. It's a "Top 8 List" of Illinois' most tiresome, tainted, timid, treacherous and/or tyrannical politicians. They include Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn, Bill Daley, Sheila Simon, Jesse White, Dick Mell, Joe Berrios, and the 3 looming Republican candidates for governor in 2014. Remember that old 1960s slogan? If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. These pols have problems, and rarely solve problems.Full Article...
January 16, 2013
FOUR 2013 ELECTIONS WILL BE HARBINGERS FOR 2014
Incumbents beware. Votes are beyond restive; they're getting angry -- with decision-avoiding, self-serving, long-entrenched, mealy-mouthed politicians. They want problems solved, not exploited and exacerbated. Four key elections in 2013 will provide a glimpse of 2014. They are in Massachusetts, Illinois' 2nd congressional district, Cicero and Niles. If the favorites lose, the outsiders win, or if voters just opt for the Same Old/Same Old, those four elections will be indicative of developing trends.Full Article...
January 9, 2013
PROGENY OF "ROYALTY" STILL RULES CHICAGO POLITICS
As Chicago Aldernan Dick Mell (33rd) waxes Shakesperian -- "to quit or not to quit, that is the question" -- and insists that daughter Deb Mell be appointed by the mayor to replace him, other politicians yawn. So what else is new? It's the family business. Chicago and county politics are replete with "royalty" -- Princes, Princesses, Lords, Ladys, Earls, Knights, and, of course, Chicago's very own Hapsburgs, the Daleys. Also powerful are the Burkes, McMadigans, Hynes's, Cullertons, Laurinos, Jacksons (but not much longer), Lipinskis and Pucinskis, Forget about the Strogers. Here's an analysis of royal bloodlines.Full Article...
January 2, 2013
DEMOCRATS MUST NOMINATE HILLARY CLINTON IN 2016, OR LOSE
The Democrats' recipe for success in 2016 boils down to this acronym: NHC. That means Nominate Hillary Clinton, or lose. Regardless of how badly Obama and Congress muck-up the Country, or how anemic is the economic recovery, hundreds of thousands of aging female "baby-boomers" have one emphatic wish: To have a woman president in their lifetime. That gender vote will offset Obama fatigue. Only Clinton can replicate the Obama coalition in 2016 and win.Full Article...
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