February 26, 2014
MADIGAN'S "GAG-AND-SPEND" STRATEGY AT WORK IN 40TH DISTRICT
Here's a "pre-column." It's a column about about the story to get the story to write the column. It's about the "Mike Madigan Academy for Political Success," in which "gag-and-spend" is the ticket to victory. In the northwest side Chicago 40th House District, where "Mell's aide replaced Mell who replaced Mell," Jaime Andrade is a summa cum laude graduate. The appointed state representative has learned his lessons well: Do what you're told, vote like you're told, don't talk to the news media, and let Madigan do the spending. Madigan's operative is running Andrade's campaign, and is being paid $1,163 bi-weekly. Madigan's "Democratic Majority" will fund at least 12 Andrade mailers. Andrade is busy, busy -- he couldn't find the time to return any of more than 25 cell phone and office calls by this columnist."He's a lifetime payroller," said opponent Aaron Goldstein of Andrade, who was an aide to Dick Mell for 17 years. The SEIU, and other unions, are poised to dump $250,000 into the race to elect Nancy Schiavone, accorrding to SEIU operative Jerry Morrison. But it will be hard to beat "Energizer Jaime," who is busy 24/7. Full Article...
February 19, 2014
REYES, GUZZARDI FACE MACHINE ONSLAUGHT IN PRIMARY
You can't make this stuff up. This column is about fact, not fiction. But the machinations and duplicities of Chicago politicians border on the unbelievable. In the North side 8th county board district, 26th Ward Ald. Billy Ocasio (D) got a state job, and Comr. Robert Maldonado (D) got his job. The area's 10 Democratic ward committeemen wouldn't let Maldonado dictate his successor, and picked state trooper Eddie Reyes, who won the 2010 primary. In 2014, the "Son Swap" prevails: State Rep. Luis Arroyo, an erstwhile Reyes ally got his son slated against Reyes for Commissioner in exchange for foregoing a 2015 36th aldermanic bid, letting 31st Ward Ald. Ray Suarez buddy's son get the job. The forces arrayed against Reyes have an 84-1 financial advantage. In the 39th House District, challenger Will Guzzardi is being ripped in State Rep. Toni Berrios's mailer as a coddler of sex offenders and an enemy of the city's public schools - which he emphatically denies. Full Article...
February 12, 2014
DART USHERS SHERIFF'S OFFICE INTO "NEW AGE"
Remember the Good Old Days? When punishment for crime was swift and severe? Jail was intended to be miserable and uncomfortable, so as to deter ex-cons from risking re-incarceration. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time. "That philosophy is not working, " said Tom Dart, Cook County's "New Age" sheriff, who runs the County Jail, with 12,500 inmates daily -- of which 3,000 are on meds and getting therapy--"mental health" is the new watchward. We no longer punish criminals; we "cure" criminals. With a lifetime of free Medicard-paid meds, counseling, therapy, Link card, subsidized housing and public aid, the ex-cons' new deterrent is: If you don't commit anymore crime, the taxpayers will insure that you live just fine. Dart, a Democrat elected in 2006, covets higher office, but is stymied. Ed Burke, Jr. will be the next sheriff. In the 2014 primary, Dart faces three foes: Ted Palka, Sylvester Baker and Bill Evans. Dart won with 61.9% in 2006 and 76.3% in 2010. Bouyed by his Southwest Side/19th Ward base, Dart will be renominated, and faces no Republican opponent. Full Article...
February 5, 2014
2014 POLITICAL TRENDS BEGINNING TO EMERGE
Remember that classic line uttered by the Leonardo DeCaprio character in the movie "Titantic"? "This is not good." State Treasurer, Dan Rutherford's bizarre allegation that Bruce Rauner is behind some disgruntled employee's $300,000.00 "hush money" ploy is ludicrous. Just when it seemed Rauner's campaign was imploding due to the "minimum wage" imbroglio, it now looks like a Quinn-Rauner face-off is inevitable. There are a few emerging 2014 trends. First, money matters, and Rauner has spent over $4 million on TV ads to date, ripping, Springfield and MOTS (More Of The Same). Second, Mike Madigan has embraced "voodoo economics" and wants to halve the state corporate income tax. A split between Madigan/Emanuel centrists and "progressives" is looming. And Obama's anemic approval rating means that a Republican rebound is likely. In Chicago, Emanuel is trying to make the unions his "fall guy." Full Article...
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