Political Hay
Thanks, Rahm!
Barack’s new f—-ing Chicago machine. Coronation is on May 16.
(Page 2 of 3)
Lesson #2 of the Chicago Way: The law is not an obstacle.
The deal was obvious to everyone: A Daley in the White House for a Rahm in the Mayor’s House. In January 2011, President Obama named William “Bill” Daley his White House chief of staff replacing Emanuel. All that was left was for Rahm to wrap up the mayoral election, making it easier for him to coordinate Obama’s re-election effort. It was musical chairs — machine-style.
Even Emanuel’s lack of Chicago residency would prove not to be a stumbling block. In fact, the media’s narrative would only serve to help him.
Thousands of Illinois candidates have been knocked of the ballot over the decades. It is casual Chicago political bloodsport. Back in 1995, Barack Obama forced his then-rival for Illinois State Senate Alice Palmer (who had endorsed Obama as her successor) and four other Democrat opponents off the ballot. Emanuel challenged his sole opponent in the 2004 Democrat primary, Mark A. Fredrickson, claiming he started gathering signatures too early.
In the 2011 elections, the Chicago Board of Elections knocked the only Republican candidate for mayor off the ballot because the Board conveniently lost “his” paperwork. He even had the filing receipt. An African-American candidate, Victor Rowans, received the ballot boot because he co-signed a car loan for a friend. The car incurred a $60 parking ticket unpaid at the time of the petition deadline and that was the end of Rowan’s candidacy.
But Emanuel was different. For members of the government ruling class, a legal challenge to his candidacy was unacceptable. Nationally and in Chicago, the mainstream media cried “foul” and Emanuel, for the first time in his life, was officially granted “victimhood” status.
Rahm Emanuel, a victim?
In response to the legal challenge, Rahm advisors launched a “Let Rahm Run” campaign and the catchy slogan was immediately tagged as a headline in editorials throughout the country. It’s nice when you have friends in the media, isn’t it? Emanuel must have been laughing himself silly.
Lesson #3 of the Chicago Way: The Machine will reward you.
In the end, the Illinois Supreme Court reinstated Emanuel’s name to the Chicago mayoral ballot after the appellate court knocked him off. Chicago cops, firemen, public school teachers, and city workers need to physically live in Chicago in order to work here. But the court reinterpreted the meaning of residency for Rahm Emanuel. After all, the law is not an obstacle.
On February 22, Emanuel won the election with 55% of the vote, avoiding a run-off. In total, Emanuel raised $14.5 million for his mayoral campaign from out-of-state contributors like Steven Spielberg, Donald Trump, and millions more from financial services and investment firms. For VIP tickets to his inaugural gala, Rahm is also charging $50,000 a pop. That gives you “special access” to “da Mayor.”
Fair payment for services rendered to the Chicago machine.
Lesson #4 of the Chicago Way: Know your enemies.
Going into the 2012 election, that Machine has a number of moving parts.
One of those parts is A Better Chicago PAC, a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization, which does not require disclosure of contributors. The political action committee is headed-up by Greg Goldner. Goldner managed Emanuel’s first congressional campaign, was a senior aide to Mayor Daley, managed his re-election in 2003, and was tapped by Obama for America to implement get out the vote and voter protection programs in Ohio. Back in March, the PAC funded print ads against Chris Christie in New Jersey in retaliation for Christie’s anti-tax campaign in Illinois. The PAC also funneled $445,000 in cash to pro-Rahm Chicago aldermen during the election. The payoff continues.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (49) | Leave a comment
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Clint| 5.12.11 @ 6:28AM
The Chicago Way.
Invite Chicago Rapper Poet, Common to The White House on Wednesday Night. In 2000, Lynn released an album that included the song, "A Song for Assata," in which he portrayed Shakur. Shakur was convicted in the 1973 murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster. She escaped prison six years later and is now living under political asylum in Cuba. His song reads, “Your power and pride is beautiful, may god bless your soul!”
How many times, will The Chicago Piece of Garbage living in the White House, get away with "Dissing" American Police?
Mimi| 5.12.11 @ 6:44AM
Too bad, someone can't make copies of this article and put it on every back PORCH in America ! They can label it CHICAGO-WAY is this what you want for your country ?
SpiralArchitect| 5.12.11 @ 12:04PM
Many people know the political realm is full of payoffs & dirty dealings and other larger and more dangerous crimes. Not many are willing to do or say much to change the situation.
Welcome to the land of the free...
Jason| 5.12.11 @ 7:07AM
Democrat corruption is a given wherever democrats are found. Chicago is no different from NYC, Philadelphia, San Francisco or LA. Democrats steal money for themselves and escape any scrutiny from the media by taking vast amounts of money from the few who work and giving it to the unwashed many who will not. The media loves communism and will overlook any kind of criminal behavior to keep democrats in office.
Pecos Pete| 5.12.11 @ 7:33AM
Add Santa Fe to your list. King Bill is gone but not forgotten. Corruption is the name of the game for the Democrats in Santa Fe.
Occam's Tool| 5.12.11 @ 2:13PM
Dear Pecos,
OhMiG-d, you are so right. I worked for a contractor to the NM State Government in 2005-2006. I have never, ever, ever dealt with a more foul political machine, and I worked for the Alabama State Government under Don Seigelman.
New Mexico's prominent political families all have relatives in prison, and the difference between the psychopaths in office and the ones behind bars is razor thin.
JimH| 5.12.11 @ 7:51AM
Corruption knows no party. The distribution of the pelf may vary somewhat though. Come to Florida to experience the joys of Republican dominated corruption.
Melvin| 5.12.11 @ 7:33AM
Mimi, most back porches in America couldn't eve tell you what state Chicago was in.
When there used to be a separation of powers between the branches of government corruption was manageable and held to a reasonable level.
Corruption in government will always be running below the surface, and unfortunately short of dictatorial rule can it be stamped out entirely.
But Chicago has become the poster child or White Collar Organized Crime. Chicago politics has been dubbed the, "Chicago Way," But in actual reality, it now should be called the, "National Way," because Chicago White Collar Crime has go National and many instances International.
The really sad and scary part to all this is, there is nothing absolutely to stand in it's way and stop it.
The Tea Party which is being denigrated at every turn, believe it or not, is trying to put the brakes on this wholesale fraud and robbery of the US taxpayer. By putting pressure on politicians to stop deficit spending.
Trillions upon trillions of dollars have been spent and many in government will honestly tell you, "We have no idea where all this money went, there was just so much of it, and it happened so fast, we didn't have the infrastructure in place to have an account of it."
This is the way most White Collar Fraud is carried out.
My opinion is valid because, on one hand how many people in government or the private sector have been charged, tried, and convicted in the Financial Disaster of 2008?
My dear fellow Americans, we have been witness and are the victims of the largest tax payer and money fraud heist in the history of the world.
The Conservative Movement has a two front war. The ignorance of the American public, and the massive disinformation that the White Collar Criminals in government, and the corrupt private sector put out with it's willing accomplices in media.
SpiralArchitect| 5.12.11 @ 12:06PM
The American politicians solution is far too often to throw money at a problem - as if that was some cure/fix all solution.
creeper| 5.13.11 @ 8:18AM
Throwing money at a problem is much easier than actually doing something about it.
davelnaf| 5.12.11 @ 7:57AM
Since Barack Obama and Chicago are joined at the hip it’s worth mentioning a comment Newt Gingrich made this morning on Fox about the billion dollars the former is raising for his reelection effort: “He needs to raise a billion dollars because Democrats [or Obama] can’t afford to run an honest election.” Maybe a good definition of decline for the US—unless the Obama saga is a freak anomaly—is a majority voting not for a good leader as president but knowingly for a good influence peddler. If Obama is reelected we are indeed in decline.
The Bishop| 5.12.11 @ 8:36AM
Every trip and visit to Chicago is a reminder of the political corruption that is a way of life. Great pizza, though.
Occam's Tool| 5.12.11 @ 2:14PM
Yup, and my cousin's place, Gulliver's, makes awesome pizza.
Michael Tomlinson| 5.12.11 @ 8:43AM
Mean as it sounds you hope he bleeds Democrat Chicago white. For that matter you hope his arrogance and greed brings down the city and state that foisted him and Obama on the nation.
Gertie| 5.12.11 @ 9:15AM
Nice to see another democrat making millions.
post*tenebras*lux| 5.12.11 @ 9:17AM
Decent people, move out of Chicago and leave the thugs to kill one another off.
Harry| 5.12.11 @ 9:22AM
If people are that stupid to vote for a corrupt democrat, then they deserve more corruption.
john dubose| 5.12.11 @ 9:32AM
Rahm Emanuel won his job by a big majority. Even a lot of Republicans voted for him. If the people of Chicago wanted to change things, they would.
grant1863| 5.12.11 @ 10:22AM
based on the above article do those Republicans know they voted for him?
RAMIII| 5.12.11 @ 11:29AM
Hahahaha! That is an excellent question!
Anthony| 5.12.11 @ 10:49AM
Emanuel's ineligibility to run for mayor was so obvious, even a law lecturer in Constitutional law from Harvard could see it.
The effluvium of corruption in Illinois reaches even to its Supreme Court. Objective facts do not exist where corruption demands another result.
Total and complete lawlessness.
SpiralArchitect| 5.12.11 @ 12:10PM
The ineligability of candidates runs from the lowest of low offices straight thru to the highest of all offices.
Dave Williams| 5.12.11 @ 11:21AM
True, free, and untainted democracy will come to frickin' SYRIA before it comes to Chicago. If either place is remotely lucky, in another 1,000 years, they will achieve the level of civilization that Athens reached 2,500 years ago. Sad.
cicero| 5.12.11 @ 11:24AM
The true beauty of democracy is that the people have to agree and ask for the screwing they receive.
The Fannie/Freddie scandal was known as long ago as at least 2004. That was when (I may be off by a year) when the Feds fined them $400 mil for cooking their books, so they could pay their politically appointed Clinton era wolves (Raines, Johnson, Gorelic, Emmanuel) millions and millions in bonus money based on those fraudulent books. AND NO ONE WENT TO JAIL OR WERE MADE TO PUT THE MONEY BACK.
As long as the wolves are in charge of the chicken coop, the owner will never get an egg. It only remains to be seen whether our present caretakerrs are going to start roasting the hens.
cuban pete| 5.12.11 @ 11:45AM
The brilliance of the first Mayor Daley was his ability to convince people that they were all "connected". Growing up I would talk to any number of neighbors and relatives who believed that because they received some basic city service for which they were royally taxed it was because they knew somebody tied to the "Old Man".
As Mike Royko once said and I paraphrase," The Daleys got campaign contributions from the unions to get wealthy. Rank and file union members got to send their kids to Chicago public schools to get stupid."
George S| 5.12.11 @ 11:48AM
Whoa.. whoa... whoa there. Donald Trump contributed to Rahm's campaign... did I read that correctly?
Kingofthenet| 5.12.11 @ 12:21PM
Aw,NeoCons are ButtHurt that Koch money can't have the same effect as good 'ol fashion Machine politics? See that's what happens when you ONLY have support from Millionaires.
Padoux| 5.12.11 @ 1:23PM
King baby, I'm and "old" conservative. since birth in 1946, with blue collar upbringing. As to money, I'd prefer to get it from millionaires than strong arm Unions who squeeze dues out of their members, live high on the hog and claim to care about the little guy. My Dad HAD to be in the railroad union before right to work, he hated it and voted republican. Can the class envy hot air, it's old hat and loved only by mental giants like Castro and Chavez, so you're in good company.
Kingofthenet| 5.12.11 @ 1:32PM
Tell you what Padoux, come back to me with ANY job that has both a Union and Non-union version in which the Non-union people EARN more, take your time...
P.S. People like your Dad voting AGAINST their own interests is nothing new.
DC| 5.12.11 @ 1:46PM
Tell you what, "queen," come back to us with any union-dominated enterprise that hasn't bankrupted that enterprise, because while they may be paid more money, they sure as shit don't EARN it. Meanwhile, productive persons/companies that aren't forced by socialist elitist pricks like you and Rahm to pay above-market rates for union stooge labor prosper, whether here in the U.S. or elsewhere. Which is why the upper Midwest is a rotting, stinking, pustule on the body of the nation, and Right to Work states are the only places any productive person considers investing. Warmed-over welfare statism is a loser mentality--but you must know that already, as you live it.
P.S. People like you arrogating to yourselves the knowledge of what is in someone else's best interests to dispose of their own money, is also nothing new. But it's always led to tyranny and ruin. Why doesn't Chicago start an upper Midwest secession movement? You brilliant union thugs know how to run things so well, why should the rest of the country share in your genius. Have it all to yourselves. Please.
Kingofthenet| 5.12.11 @ 2:23PM
You do realize a job isn't a 'Charity' right? Having a job means NOTHING if it can't pay the bills and make you comfortable. I know you prefer to see people work two and three jobs to get by, but most UNION households know a person, works to live NOT the other way round.
P.S. Funny how you guys worry about 'bankrupting' Corporations and don't care about spoiling the planet with Toxic Waste or breaking people down with overwork, shows where your priorities/sympathies are ...
solidground| 5.12.11 @ 5:01PM
Perhaps people who work two and three jobs "to get by" need to reconsider their living standard and dial it back to reality. I doubt there are union members anywhere in this country who make less than two or three times the poverty wage. Give up the boats, the SUVs, the 40-inch tv screens etc. etc. and wow, the household budget becomes much easier to manage. Everyone needs to live within their means -- even when the federal government, the current facilitator and champion of all things union, refuses.
Kingofthenet| 5.12.11 @ 7:40PM
So you want everyone except the 'so -called' entrepreneurs to live like Serfs? For WHAT ends? So you can pay your employees less and keep more? So your stocks pay higher dividends? So you can pay a little less on all your goods? Do you REALLY want 90% of the Country to live like Chinese peasants?
Kingofthenet| 5.12.11 @ 7:40PM
So you want everyone except the 'so -called' entrepreneurs to live like Serfs? For WHAT ends? So you can pay your employees less and keep more? So your stocks pay higher dividends? So you can pay a little less on all your goods? Do you REALLY want 90% of the Country to live like Chinese peasants?
Occam's Tool| 5.12.11 @ 2:17PM
VA MDs versus private practice MDs, King of the Net. The private practice guys make more than the SEIU guys.
That was easy.
Kingofthenet| 5.12.11 @ 7:43PM
I think that is a MIGHTY small group, I am curious why you didn't pick Legal Aid Lawyers instead? You know some do, what they do to either help the veterans or out of a sense of fairness...
Drunken Sailor| 5.12.11 @ 2:24PM
Ahhh but are they more productive? No way in hell. I work for a company that has both Union and Non union divisions. 5 years ago they built large distribution centers in major metroplitan areas. My small division is still here in a rural area. We are non-union and even though they are 3 times are size we are still the number 1 or 2 slot in productivity, lowest cost, highest earnings. And the people here make a comparable wage to the surrounding businesses. Higher wages do not always a better company make. What good does a high wage do you if the plant has to close due to lack of profit? Go peddle your snake oil some where else.
john| 5.13.11 @ 2:43PM
King of the nuts, Go and see what the unions have done for Detroit, moron. Why do you thing Toyota is in AL??
FakeEagle| 5.12.11 @ 12:42PM
All hail Rahmses I. Eeeeewwww.
Padoux| 5.12.11 @ 1:15PM
Don't hold back dude! I've heard Dailey delivered Chicago for JFK too. What a tradition!
Bill Diebold| 5.12.11 @ 2:40PM
...just another third world country. Now that they have their newly, freely elected (chuckle chuckle) tribal leader they can form their own taliban and raid surrounding states and confiscate their wealth. Visited Chicago on business several times, always felt a team of Navy Seals would be welcome accompaniment. The inhabitants must be satisfied or terrified just to let the ball ride...oh well.
solidground| 5.12.11 @ 4:55PM
As that famous denizen of the Chicago-land area, Wayne Campbell, was wont to say, "No way? Way!!"
mike| 5.12.11 @ 7:04PM
here in Boston every once and a while Mista Speakah goes to jail. to join the councilors who stuff there bra,or accept that ole preacher handshake.We just need Seal 6 to find Whitey.
Ivy| 5.12.11 @ 9:01PM
My husband and I got out of there a little over two years ago.
I was bred and buttered on the North Side, but by the time I reached adulthood, I couldn't stand it any more. The Illinois Combine is too disgusting.
Sure, corruption is everywhere, but Chicago wrote the book, and works very hard at seeking new lows.
And "King" - unions are nothing more than influence peddling machines that screw over the workers while making them pay for the privilege. Go try to file a grievance if you're not connected.
Kingofthenet| 5.12.11 @ 9:13PM
I know many peoples job who was saved by being in the union, filing a grievance when you DON'T have a Union entails going to unemployment.
John II| 5.12.11 @ 11:08PM
Shut your smug, lying mouth, you corrupt piece of garbage! Go down to Cuba where you can get a job with the commie government beating up street peddlers and spying on your neighbors.
[How's THAT for a response, King? I learned the intonation from the union goons who destroyed my father's small business.]
And now back to "The Last Hurrah" (1958), in which Spencer Tracy sings the swan song of machine politics, back when, like the unions, it was a perky response to injustice, until it rather quickly descended into a nastier form of injustice.
Dee See| 5.12.11 @ 11:12PM
---Great piece!
Meanwhile, as one and all are required
by UN decree to have those surveillance
grid light fixtures and RED Chinese made,
mercury filled bulbs (BTW eavedropping
and bio-metrics device) ----the greatest
world nuclear disaster in history goes into
its 4th week of media blackout --monitoring
stations around the world remain 'down'
--even as, just days ago. off the charts radiation and burns are reported ---in Kent England.
---------------------------Giggles everywhere!
The Bruce| 5.13.11 @ 3:51AM
Step back and think about this for a moment. Chicago is known around the world as a corrupt, mob-influenced staple of the United States. They are one of the few cities in the world that have a political brand named after them (the Chicago Way).
Did anyone have any doubt whatsoever that Rahm would be "elected" mayor of this tarnished city? He's a perfect fit. And the "dead, dead, dead" mantra perfectly fits with his Al Capone persona.
I personally look at Chicago as the real-world evil fairy tale that I can laugh at on a continual basis. Chicago deserves the dead fish.
JT| 1.2.12 @ 4:26PM
Rahm didnt win anything, voting in Chicago is just like in America, its all rigged by the feces brain polititions...but then again the stupid puppets in Chicago would have voted for him had it been legit. Chicago has always been full of brainwashed loons