December 23, 2015
ARENA, "COOKE'S LAW," HIGHLIGHT KEY SUBCIRCUIT JUDICIAL ROCKS

After the 2016 Democratic primary "Cooke's Law" will be immortalized.  Cook County has 15 subcircuits, meaning small districts (usually 6-8 wards in Chicago) which elect 157 of the country's 370 judges.  In the Hispanic majority 6th sub circuit, which contains most of the 33rd, 36th, 31st, 28th and 1st wards, attorney Rich Cooke, a protege of Dick Mell,began his campaign by loaning it $500,000.  That had more than a "drilling effect"; It was thermo-nuclear, vaporizing all opposition.  Cooke's Law:  You don't need to spend $500,000 to win a judgeship - you just have to have $500,000 available and ready to be spent. Full Article...


December 16, 2015
"NAME GAME," GENDER, DOMINATE COOK CO. JUDICIAL RACES

XX + Mc or O' + J.D. + ASA + Dem + HQ + $35K = JUDGE.  That's the formula for getting slated and elected a judge in Cook County. First, XX chromosomes are preferable; then name the girl Colleen, Maureen or Eileen; then have a parent or parents with a fine Irish surname; then graduate law school, and get a job as a prosecutor or assistant state's attorney (ASA); then become a Democrat; then get good bar association ratings (like "Highly Qualified"); then donate $35,000 to the Democratic party to get slated. And, viola, you're on the bench, making $184,000. In 2016, 13 countywide judicial vacancies are on the 3/15 Democratic primary ballot -- 2 for the Appellate Court, 11 for the Circuit Court. Those women with Irish surnames are unbeatable, and most are unopposed. Those men with odd-sounding names are toast, even if slated. In Cook County, judges are made at conception. Full Article...


December 9, 2015
"FANTASY POLITICS" COULD BE NEXT HOT CRAZE

"Fantasy Football" is hyped as a game of "skill," but it's really just gambling. And most of the suckers who subscribe to Fan Duel and DraftKings get fleeced. Pick a team; draft a player -- and lose your money. For those non-sportsminded, but gambling-fixated, "Fantasy Politics" would be an apt alternative. In Chicago, Cook County and Illinois, there's lots of teams and a surplus of players. Don't draft Rahm Emanuel: He's a guaranteed loser in 2019. Draft Toni Preckwinkle: She's the New Boss, and her candidates for Clerk and State's Attorney will win in 2016. Draft Mike Madigan: He will find a way to get Lisa Madigan elected governor in 2018 or mayor in 2019. Don't draft Bruce Rauner: He may spend $100 million in 2018, but his approval ratings are about 30%. And then there's Joe Berrios and Luis Arroyo. Who will be El Hombre Grande? Take Arroyo. In Fantasy Football, payday is the next day or Monday. If you want to squander your money, opt for politics. At least you won't lose for a couple of years. Full Article...


December 2, 2015
"LAQUAN MONSTER" WILL DEVOUR ALVAREZ IN 2016

The "Laquan Monster" has been sighted, and, unlike the Loch Ness Monster, is not mythical. It's existence has been confirmed. That's horrendous news for Cook Co. State's Atty. Anita Alvarez, whose politician-protecting, law-and-disorder, excuse-the-cops policies have enraged the black community in Chicago and Cook County. It's "16 in '16," a reference to the 16 bullets that riddled Laquan McDonald in 2014. Black turnout in 2016 will be monumental, which means Kim Foxx will beat Alvarez in the 3/15/16 Dem primary, and there will be a trickle-down effect in other contests, aiding the black "Soul Slate." It will be like 1983 and 2008. There will be some white pushback, but any black Democrat nominated will be elected. Full Article...


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