CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Race and 2010

Re: Race and 2010

Anon3 — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:07:14 -0000

Joe-
I believe you. However, this is a case where preception is taking over. I don't know that many property tax payers in Cook Co. However, all the non aferican americans are just very frustrated about the whole situation and he seems to be the focus of all the anger, whether he deserves it or not. He will get his basic numbers but can he translate that into reelection I dont know.
No one from what I can see truely wants to reform County Government.
So in the end nothing will happen

Re: Race and 2010

Anon3 — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:41:42 -0000

Sam E it sure does have a higher profile and that is because the feds moniter his jail full time, his sworn officers always under investigation and his non sworn staff are county hacks whom he cannot get rid of. Unless he wants to be a true reformer the place is a time bomb. I do not believe he has the stomach for real reform.
Even JBT could run the Treas office on auto control, it's nice barely full time job for him, no more midnight calls and more time for his young family.

Re: Race and 2010

steamer — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:37:03 -0000

Joe-I hope you are on the payroll. I think your real name is Gene but what do I know. If it is you Gene get yourself back to the CPD where you belong and run away from that train wreck as fast as you can.

Re: Race and 2010

wordslinger — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:04:05 -0000

Joe has a profoundly truthful point about Daley and Stroger. I will not defend Stroger. He runs a Soviet-like corrupt system and he's a lightweight clown to boot.

But the pass the Daley Administration gets from the media and majority of the public is absurd. It's been clear for some time time, by any objective measure, that the Daley Administration is an ongoing criminal enterprise.

Hired truck, minority contracts, fixed hiring, abuse of power, it goes on and on. We don't know the half of it. Wait til they turn the over the rock at O'Hare.

Daley's capos and soldiers -- Degnan, Joyce, Reyes, Kruesi, Sanchez, Sorich, -- do the crooked deals and act as buffers to protect the Godfather. The black ministers, the Jacksons, have all been co-opted. Obama got kicked upstairs.

John Daley runs the family Bridgeport estate and the county. Bill Daley is the outside fixer and Mike Daley is the inside fixer and family money man who no one ever sees. Not even a picture.

Ever present is The Outfit, lifelong friends who can provide untraceable cash and payoffs, give kickbacks, and round up election-day muscle in exchange for city jobs, benefits and contracts.

Meanwhile, dozens of Daley cousins and in-laws get cushy private sector jobs from those who need the Godfather's favor and hustle inside deals for no work.

And while 508 kids are shot and 25 die in the hood, the great Sun-Times blames the SCHOOLS for not doing enough, with no mention of Daley, the undisputed ruler of the city. Like teachers and principals are trained to knock down the gangbangers?

Why do we put up with it? We take a perverse pride in the corruption, admire the wiseguys. Many fear challenging the Daleys, no onle likes them. And in all honesty, many fear the devil they don't know, i.e. a black mayor.

The Daleys didn't make Chicago. The city thrived before them and will thrive without them.

As St. Patrick Day approaches, take heart. There's an Irishman out of Brooklyn, son of a doorman, who doesn't want money, or a corner office on LaSalle Street, and will not stop until he takes down the Prince of Bridgeport.

And once he's gone, we'll wonder why we kept him around for so long.

Re: Race and 2010

Sam E. — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:36:50 -0000

Reading on Walden:

I'm not sure I can agree with you. As sheriff, Dart gets his mug on Chicago t.v. and in the papers a whole hell of a lot more than Giannoulias does as Treasurer. I saw him on CNN again this morning talking about that craigslist stuff. The only time I've seen Alexi on the tube is when he's lining up to kick Blago. Nothing against Alexi and the way he runs the office, I just think the the sheriff's office has a much higher profile.

Re: Race and 2010

Reading on Walden — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:10:53 -0000

Sam E. No, State Treasurer for Dart would very much be a step up because should he win, it would mean that he can win statewide which also means, dare I say it, one day Governor or United States Senator. Which I believe Tom Dart can challenge one day.

Re: Race and 2010

Sam E. — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:37:36 -0000

Dart for Treasurer? Isn't that a step down from sheriff?

Re: Race and 2010

Carl Nyberg — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:52:45 -0000

Let's do this better:

2010, incumbents

U.S. Senator--Centralia/Chicago Black male

Govâ€“Chicago Irish male
Lt. Govâ€“vacant
AGâ€“Chicago Irish female
Sec of Stateâ€“Chicago Black male
Treasurerâ€“Chicago Greek male
Comptrollerâ€“Chicago Irish male

President of Boardâ€“Chicago Black male
Clerkâ€“Chicago Irish male
Sheriffâ€“Chicago Irish male
Treasurerâ€“Chicago Greek female
Assessorâ€“Chicago Irish male

2012, incumbents

President-Chicago Black

no U.S. Senator or constitutional officers up for election

State's Attorney--River Forest Mexican female
Clerk of the Court--Chicago Black female
Recorder of Deeds--Maywood Black male

other U.S. Senator--Springfield Lithuanian/Irish male

And the Congressional Dems
1--Chicago Black male
2--Chicago Black male
3--Chicago/Western Springs Polish male
4--Chicago Puerto Rican male
5--vacant (Chicago Irish male)
7--Chicago Black male
8--Barrington Serbian female
9--Evanston Russian Jewish female
11--Crete Italian/Scandanavian (?) female
12--Belleville Irish male
14--Batavia Anglo male
17--Rock Island Irish male

Re: Race and 2010

blackdem — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:34:47 -0000

Good conversation here. Joe I agree with you on most points. What the main question is why do so many of you think Stroger is dead? Is it because the Times and Tribune have told you so? Obviously his accomplishments mean nothing to you..So is it race? Yeah he had a rock start..we all got that but he has REFORMED yes I said it Cook County more than anyone else ever has in 3 years,,His government is the only one functioning without a deficit. Why hate him so much? and to VanillaMAn and Gene..why do you think Stroger has been abandoned??by who you and your constituents His voting block which represents 500,000 or so voters are still with him. He didn't when most white townships and wards anyway..which by the way show you about loyalty to the party. Stop disregarding our leadership based on you own agendas who do vote and are on top of it also.
Its not ablout us blindly voting for one of our own..it start with having 2 people in power who are as good or better than the rest of the politicians but everyone painting them as horrible when clearly the record shows they are not. If they are bad the vote the out black or white but be fair to our electeds.

Re: Race and 2010

Fan of the Game — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:26:39 -0000

Anyone downstate running? Anyone south of I-80? I-74?

Re: Race and 2010

Phineas J. Whoopee — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:08:43 -0000

Jeepers, everybody seems so concerned about having a prominant black on the ticket, however, if Quinn and Madigan go all out against each other the obvious beneficiary will be whatever prominant black candidate gets in the primary and splits the uprights. That ought to take care of the lack of a prominant black rep on the ticket.

Re: Race and 2010

What — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:03:45 -0000

I'm confused by all the "race" talk being done about the upcoming elections. We just elected the first African American President of the United States of America. We have and will reelect an African American Secretary of State. Why are we so affected by the exact number and who will get what when and how. Let the Democratic process work itself out. Lets have elections and may the best man or woman win. If we go backward and revert to racial politics will President Obama win reelction. If for some reason we don't have three or four African Americans in the General Election is it possible that maybe just maybe Democrats can win? Will President Obama campaign for the Democratic slate in Illinois. Will that help motivate African American voters to elect Democrats committed to fighting for his agenda.

Re: Race and 2010

Amy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:58:19 -0000

oops we forgot Anita Alvarez so that adds Latina and one more woman.

but the point should be well taken by those represented beyond the percentages. others will come looking for place.

Re: Race and 2010

George — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:52:33 -0000

Joe Said: "kid-gloves media treatment offered to the white puppet masters is more about power"

You mean - like Rod?

Re: Race and 2010

Amy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:27:31 -0000

carl, interesting list, but I think that the County Clerk is not Irish and there are two african americans at Clerk of the Courts and Recorder of Deeds. but, yes, everyone who is not Irish, Greek or African American will look at this list in awe of the scale of representation that leaves lots of others out of the equation. Hispanic, Polish,

the greatest discprepancy is that if you take the whole list, there are only three women and 9 men.

in citywide politics, Irish, Latino, African American. nicely done, Mr. Mayor!

Re: Race and 2010

IrishPirate — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:12:19 -0000

Stroger's predicament has little to do with his race and much to do with having the highest sales tax in America. He is not the only one to blame for that, but he is "wearing the jacket" in the minds of the voters. That and his general arrogance. He's a lightweight who would have been better off staying on as an Aldercritter.

How many more cousins is he going to put on the payroll explaining that they got better grades than him in grade school?

Stroger and Burris are both dead mean walking election wise.

As for those of you who seem to think Lisa Madigan is a lock for the Governor's office I suggest you not hold your breath. IF she runs, and that IF is bigger than Blago's hair care budget, she may not even make it out of a primary.
So far, except for some stupidity regarding Roland Burris, Quinn is looking pretty good.

Re: Race and 2010

Carl Nyberg — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:03:26 -0000

Incumbents

Gov--Chicago Irish
Lt. Gov--vacant
AG--Chicago Irish
Sec of State--Chicago Black
Treasurer--Chicago Greek
Comptroller--Chicago Irish

President of Board--Chicago Black
Clerk--Chicago Irish
Sheriff--Chicago Irish
Treasurer--Chicago Greek
Assessor--Chicago Irish

Re: Race and 2010

Gene Parmesan — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:58:05 -0000

Joe, you're hilarious, do you do birthday parties?

Re: Race and 2010

Joe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:56:11 -0000

Stroger will get the same votes his father received and will repeat his general election trouncing of the Republican nominee.

The Stroger voting bloc has not abandoned him, its just the media and those who did not vote for him in 2006. Like vanilla and gene.

Re: Race and 2010

VanillaMan — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:50:32 -0000

Stroger could raise the dead, but he'd still be politically dead.

Re: Race and 2010

Joe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:48:18 -0000

Gene you can't handle the facts. When the unfair criticisms of President Stroger are refuted with facts you cry foul. You can say whatever you want, you can offend, malaign and impune a man who is educated, experienced and a positive role model for many in Chicago but when
we stand up you and challenge your garbage run away from the facts.

Fact
Balance Budget

Fact
New Reformd Health Board

Fact
New Reformed Juvenile Detention Ctr.

Fact
Cut Employees by 900

Fact
Most diversified workforce in the history of county government

Fact
Excellent Bond Rating

Fact
Excellent women and minority contract record

You just don't like the facts.

Re: Race and 2010

Gene Parmesan — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:30:38 -0000

C'mon Joe, that line of 'logic' stinks and you know it.

Todd's mismanaged the county so much that his only means of winning the next campaign is to engage in the worst kind of racial politics. Words like 'victim' to start and then we'll hear how he's being lynched, etc.

Using Daley and the press as some type of strawman isn't going to absolve Todd of his gross incompetence. Bash Daley and the north-siders all you want, it doesn't change any of Todd's poor choices over the last few years. It's just phony rhetoric. Shame on you and Stroger for engaging in such blatant racial partisanship.

Re: Race and 2010

Joe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:26:25 -0000

The answer, I suspect, is that they pull their punches when it comes to Daley because they donâ€™t want to take on the real power in this town. Plus, thereâ€™s something about black patronage, as opposed to white patronage, that irritates the hell out of a lot of white people. So the north siders pound away at Stroger, an easy target without the political capital to pound back.

Re: Race and 2010

Joe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:25:16 -0000

You want to talk about patronage hiring? The mayorâ€™s former patronage chief, Robert Sorich, is now in prison for fraud. He was previously John Daleyâ€™s driver, and his father was a photographer for the first Boss Daley. I could go on and on. So why arenâ€™t outraged north-side politicians accusing one another of being too close to the Daleys.

Re: Race and 2010

Amy — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:20:36 -0000

did anyone crunch the numbers from the 5th CD race by Commissioner District other than the 12th? would be interesting.