August 30, 2017
DEMOCRATIC WHITE MEN HIT "GLASS CEILING"
They have become tokens, inconsequential and irrelevant. White men in the Cook County Democratic Party have hit the proverbial "glass ceiling." Of the 16 countywide positions on the 2018 ballot, including 7 judges, slatemakers picked three white men -- or 18%. The remaining 13 were women and/or minorities. The Democrats' powerhouse remains county board president Toni Preckwinkle, who got a former aide elected state's attorney in 2016, and who got herself and two more former aides slated for MWRD commissioner and lieutenant governor for 2018. Other than Assessor Joe Berrios, all the re-slated incumbents appear secure. Berrios will be opposed by Fritz Kaegi, who won't be credible nor viable unless he spends $5 million. Lisa Madigan's once-rosy future looks less rosy; polls reportedly show her "approval" has plunged, due to her dad. In the judicial contests, one white male was slated, along with 3 blacks and one Hispanic male. A plethora of Irish-surnamed females will run for those judgeships, and likely win all five. Full Article...
August 23, 2017
MARTWICK MUM ON ARENA'S COLONIZATION PLANS FOR "NEANDERTHAL PARK"
Chicago Ald. John Arena (45th) is a man on a mission. He promises to desegregate the northerly Jefferson Park and Gladstone Park part of his northwest side ward -- aka "Neanderthal Park" -- by 2019, and is busily pushing his 5150 Northwest Hwy. project, which will bring in CHA-list tenants and mandate "affordable" (meaning below market) apartment units. Needless to say, there has been some pushback. This has created a predicament for St. Rep. Rob Martwick (D-19), in that the heart of his House district is "Neanderthal Park." But the loquacious Martwick, who usually is very chatty, has clammed-up on 5150. For him, it's no vote/no voice. "I don't get involved in zoning," he said. Republican Ammie Kessem is running against him in 2018, and will make 5150 a prime issue. If she gets decent funding, "Mums" Martwick may have a problem. Full Article...
August 16, 2017
NORTH KOREAN "CRISIS" COULD REVIVE TRUMP'S DISMAL POLL NUMBERS
Nuke, invade or ignore. Those are President Trump's options regarding the megalomaniac dictator of North Korea. Like JFK in the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, Trump knows that, sooner or later, either Kim Jung-Un or his 10 nuclear missiles must go. Throughout U.S. history, stretching from the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Suez, Cuba, Vietnam, Iranian hostages, Gulf War and 9/11, how a president handles himself during an "international crisis" determines his re-electability. If Trump has any hope of a second term, he needs to solve the North Koran situation without Guam being nuked. Full Article...
August 9, 2017
PRO-EMANUEL ALDERMEN AT RISK IN 2019
The operative word is "separation." Republicans will want to distance themselves from President Trump in 2018, and Chicago Democrats will want to do likewise, and distance themselves from Mayor Emanuel in 2019. Northwest Side aldermen, particularly Marge Laurino (39th), Pat O'Connor (40th) and Deb Mell (33rd) are not doing a very good job. Their pro-Emanuel voting record will cause them serious problems in their 2019 re-election race -- if they run. Others, like Nick Sposato (38th) and Anthony Napolitano (41st) have compiled an anti-Emanuel voting record which will please their constituents. Full Article...
August 2, 2017
PRECKWINKLE, ARROYO BATTLE FOR MWRD SLATING PLUM
Cook County Democrats will engage in their usual slatemaking charade on Aug. 10-11, unveiling their "slated" candidates for countywide office in 2018, including assessor, sheriff, board president, clerk, treasurer and 4 Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) commissioners. "It's a farce," said Ald. Nick Sposato. A "pre-slating" was held in June, and the recommendations of that entity will be rubber-stamped at the formal slatemaking, with a voice vote taken. The only suspense is a battle between Toni Preckwinkle and Luis Arroyo over whether the slatee for the 2-year MWRD term will be black or Hispanic. The vacancy arose when Comr. Cynthia Santos took a job at the state Pollution Control Board, boosting her pay from $70,000 to $117,000. Full Article...
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