July 31, 2013
FUNDRAISING DOLLARS SEPARATE POWERHOUSES FROM PYGMIES
There are two kinds of politicians: Those who raise lots of money, and those who don't. The former are generally secure, and latter are in perpetual jeopardy. Attached is a fundraising chart measuring the prowess of over 60 politicians in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois. Atop the list is Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who has $4 million on-hand, along with Lisa Madigan ($4.9 million), Pat Quinn ($2.3 million) and Toni Preckwinkle ($1 million). Ald. Ed Burke has an obscene $4.7 million. But a lot of politicans are herbivores, munchers who don't raise much cash, especially a bunch of Chicago aldermen. They are an endangered species. The fundraising chart follows the article. Full Article...
July 24, 2013
BARAK REAGAN? HAS OBAMA FINISHED THE REAGAN REALIGNMENT?
There is a great debate about whether Barack Obama is a transitional or transformative president. Has he realigned American politics? In conjunction with Ronald Reagan, Obama has, in his few short years (2009-present), culminated what Reagan started in the 1980s: An ideological, cultural, geographic and racial re-positioning of the parties. The yardstick is America's state legislatures. Under Obama, Republicans have gained 249 state Senate and House seats in the past two elections, giving them a nationwide 3,787-3,523 majority. That created the "Boehner Nation," giving the Republicans a "lock" on the U.S. House, much as the Obama Nation has a "lock" on the presidency.Full Article...
July 17, 2013
DEMOCRATS' COUNTY "PRE-SLATING" IS A POLITICAL CHARADE
Just as the airlines have "pre-boarding," the Cook County Democrats have an equally non-sensical "pre-slating." That means you're slated before slating. There are 17 countywide offices on the ballot in 2014, including 9 judgeships. The premise of "pre-slating" is: Find the sucker. Fleece the sucker. Blow-off the sucker. On June 21, a plethora of supplicants showed up (mostly lawyers) to give their 5-minute spiel. "Regrettably," they'll be told that there is no room this year on the slate, but keep giving money, and come back in 2016.
Joe Berrios, the assessor, has $523,697 in his campaign account, and is favored to win renomination. Full Article...
July 10, 2013
MANIPULATIVE MELL CONSPIRES TO INSTALL DAUGHTER AS ALDERMAN
Retiring Chicago Alderman Dick Mell (33rd) is the kind of guy to gives until you hurt -- but he never hurts. After all, it was Mell who foisted his disgraced son-in-law, Rod Blagojevich, on the people of Illinois. Now he's trying to foist his daughter, Deb Mell, on the 33rd Ward. Breaking promises and making false commitments is part of Mell's character and persona. Mell considers the 40th House District his personal sandbox. He made Deb Mell the incumbent in 2008. He will have a tough time passing off the seat to Jaime Andrade. Full Article...
July 3, 2013
APPELLATE COURT'S LIBEL OPINION SHIFTS SWORD OF DAMOCLES IN 2015 45TH WARD ALDERMANIC RACE
John Garrido didn't just dodge a bullet; he dodged a scud missile. Now the Sword of Damocles in Chicago's 45th Ward hangs over Ald. John Arena, not Garrido. Arena beat Garrido by 30 votes in 2011. The June decision by the Illinois Appellate Court concluded that Arena and his union allies -- CFL, SEIU, Unite Here Local 1 -- engaged in dirty tricks and lied about Garrido in 7 mailings and one TV ad. Garrido's pending defamation action, which seeks $900,000 in damages, can now proceed. The Court ruled that two allegations -- that Garrido took parking meter deal money, and that he would collect two pensions -- were not "actually true." Shades of Nixon. Garrido is no longer on the hook to pay $150,000 in legal fees for a "meritless" pleading. A 2015 rematch looms. "45thWardMom.com" Michelle Baert is running, complicating the race. But Arena now has serious -- and potentially expensive -- legal and political problems. Full Article...
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