July 27, 2011
"POWERHOUSE RANKINGS": HOW MUCH MONEY DO POLITICIANS HAVE?
In Chicago and Cook County, there's a BMMNO List. That's an acronym for Big Money Means No Opposition. Combined with this article is a fundraising chart for 2010-11. Ald. Ed Burke (14th) has an obscene $7.6 million in his campaign accounts, and hauls in $1 million annually. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, state Democratic chairman and 13th Ward committeeman, has $1.3 million on-hand, and spent $14.9 million. Assessor Joe Berrios spent $2.8 million. On a lower echelon, pols like Pat O'Connor, Joe Moore and Dick Mell raised big bucks, and Gene Schulter, Lou Lang, Bill Banks and John D'Amico had a hefty cash-on-hand. In the pits is Pat Levar, whose 45th Ward operation had just $3,893. Money matters. Full Article...
July 20, 2011
"BUMBLER" SCHULTER EYES COMEBACK FOR BOARD REVIEW
The bumbler is back. Former 47th Ward Alderman Gene Schulter, who fumbled his aldermanic succession, and bungled his appointment to succeed Joe Berrios on the powerful Board of Review, is ready to risk another humiliation. Schulter, alderman from 1975 to 2011, has $830,000 in his campaign account. Schulter's deceit led to the election of Ameya Pawar as alderman, and his arrogance was punctured by the selection of Mike Cabonargi as BOR commissioner by chief judge Tim Evans, an erstwhile Schulter ally on the city council in the 1980s. Schulter's precinct captains are spreading disinformation about Pawar. In a 5-plus candidate field for the Democratic nomination for 2nd Dist Board of Review commissioner in 2012, Schulter could win if he spends all his money. Full Article...
July 13, 2011
"DARWINISM" HIGHLIGHTS 2012 CHICAGO COMMITTEEMAN RACES
It's positively Darwinian. In the kingdom of Chicago politics, the survival of the fittest aldermen require that they also be their ward's Democratic committeeman. "I'm watching my back," said newly-elected Ald. Nick Sposato, who will run in the 36th Ward. At present, 26 of 50 aldermen are also a committeeman, two have spouses in the party job, and one has a sister. The premise: A rival as committeeman has the potential to create opposition. There are four types of committeeman: Bulls, Strallions, Lambs and Donkeys. Bulls are aldermen/committeemen; Stallions (like Mike Madigan, Jesse White) have a more powerful job; Lambs exist at the sufferance of the alderman; and Donkeys don't have the power to oust the alderman. In the 36th Ward, the Banks/DeLeo machine has collapsed. In the 45th Ward, it's the Year of the Lamb. Full Article...
July 6, 2011
OBAMA NOT ASSURED OF WINNING SECOND TERM
It's déjà vu all over. The 2012 presidential election will be a replication of 2004. Just as the Bush policies in his second term rejuvenated the Democrats, Obama's first-term failures and initiatives have resurrected the Republicans. But some Republicans are ambivalent about ousting Obama in 2012. Better, they say, to let the ongoing economic collapse firmly attach itself to Obama and the Democrats, thereby insuring a sweeping Republican victory in 2016. The key states in 2012 are NC, VA, FL, OH, MI, PA and WI, with 121 electoral votes. Unless Obama wins 4 of those 7 states, he's a one-termer. As for 2012 U.S. Senate and House contests, the Republicans look like a cinch to win majorities in both chambers. Full Article...
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