November 25, 2015
DUNKIN, RUSH ON DIFFERENT SOUTH SIDE TRAJECTORIES
Going, going, gone? That describes the political trajectories of State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-5) and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1). Both are black Chicago South Siders. Dunkin strayed from Speaker Mike Madigan's Springfield plantation . He had the temerity to "negotiate" with Gov. Bruce Rauner (R). That's almost treasonable. Democrats don't negotiate -- they demand. Dunkin got some of Rauner's daycare cuts restored, but refused to be the 71st vote to restore all of them. He has a 2016 target on his back. The iconic and ailing Rush, onetime Black Panther and "Washington 21," age 69, refuses to fade away. He's seeking a 13th term, backlogging a plethora of black politicians (including Dunkin) who want his seat. He won't "pull a Lipinski," he says. We'll see. Full Article...
November 18, 2015
2016 IS "YEAR OF OUTSIDER," DESPITE HISTORY OF FAILURE
Is 2016, as the news media loudly proclaims, the "Year of the Outsider"? One must differentiate between "outsider" and "independent." An "outsider" is a politician within a party who is not part of the party's establishment, and given little chance of winning -- and, if victorious, invariably governs somewhere between erratically and abysmally. Think Bruce Rauner and Dan Walker. An "independent" is uncommitted to either party -- and always loses. Think Ross Perot. The successful "outsider" moves quickly to become an insider. Think Jane Byrne. In 2016, being an "outsider" is in. "Experience" is now viewed as synonymous with "incompetence." Full Article...
November 11, 2015
CITY COUNCIL'S "TOUGH DECISION" IS NON-SENSE
Beware politicians who moan and groan about "tough decisions." When they do, hang onto your wallet and purse, for it's a code word -- and lame excuse -- for more taxes and spending. Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st) insists that the Emanuel Administration's $7.8 billion budget/$720 million tax increase, passed 36-14 on Oct. 28, is the "wrong decision." Almost all the more senior aldermen, and 16 of 18 black aldermen, signed on. 7 of the 14 "no" votes came from first-termers. Napolitano asked why the $700 million-plus in TIF funds weren't used. There will be political consequences in 2019, but defeat is not a certainty for either the mayor or the "Emanuel 36." Emanuel will raise $20 million over the next few years, even if he's going to retire, and the public sector unions will show their gratitude, as they did in 2015, pouring millions into key ward races. The city's unfunded pension and bonded indebtedness is $78.1 billion. For Chicago property taxpayers, the worst is yet to come: Property taxes will increase each year from 2016 to 2019. Voting against those who imposed them will not be a "tough decision." Full Article...
November 4, 2015
ALVAREZ MUST OVERCOME RAP OF "TOO-TOUGH-ON-CRIME" AND "TOO-SOFT-ON-POLITICIANS"
Since when is being "too-tough-on-crime" a disqualification for being state's attorney? That's the rap on incumbent Anita Alvarez, whose policy is to keep suspects in the slammer, and to put convictees in the slammer. That annoys Cook Co. board president Toni Preckwinkle and Sheriff Tom Dart, since it costs $160/day per County Jail inmate, and high bails means most minorities stay incarcerated until trial -- which means, under Alvarez, up to a year, since there's no plea bargain or charge reduction. Past state's attorneys have been undermined and defeated because of unwise or botched prosecutions. Alvarez' Achilles Heel is the Koschman/Vanecko case, where she dithered and dawdled in prosecuting Daley's nephew. Black Preckwinkle aide Kim Foxx will test the premise that Alvarez is too-tough-on-crime and too-soft-on-politicians. Full Article...
Previous Articles