bounty
July 27, 2005 10:07 AM Subscribe
A $10,000 bounty & appalling arrogance. Gary Skoien, Cook County GOP chairman, placed a $10,000 bounty on Da mare's head over by dere.
Gary Skoien: "I am personally placing a ten thousand dollar bounty on the head of Richard Daley. He's the head Democrat and chief punk on that Chicago team."
Jacqueline Heard: "A bounty?"
Gary Skoien: "Yeah, ten thousand bucks of my own money for the first of my men who really creams that guy."
a $10,000 reward for information leading to an indictment and conviction of Mayor Richard M. Daley
Hmm, $10k for a mayor. How much do think a President would cost?
posted by Espy Gillespie at 10:16 AM on July 27, 2005
Hmm, $10k for a mayor. How much do think a President would cost?
posted by Espy Gillespie at 10:16 AM on July 27, 2005
The depths to which the GOP will stoop never ceases to amaze.
posted by wsg at 10:24 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by wsg at 10:24 AM on July 27, 2005
Will the Rovian thugs ever stop.
posted by nervousfritz at 10:32 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by nervousfritz at 10:32 AM on July 27, 2005
Youse guys didn't hear nothin'.
posted by clevershark at 10:33 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by clevershark at 10:33 AM on July 27, 2005
Dick Daley before he dicks you.
He's like Senior 'cept with no hippies to beat.
posted by chibikeandy at 10:34 AM on July 27, 2005
He's like Senior 'cept with no hippies to beat.
posted by chibikeandy at 10:34 AM on July 27, 2005
This is an outrage, but it was fine and dandy when Larry Flynt was offering a pile of cash in return for dirt on Republicans during the Clinton impeachment?
posted by The Dryyyyy Cracker at 10:37 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by The Dryyyyy Cracker at 10:37 AM on July 27, 2005
Did Flynt call it "a bounty on their heads"?
posted by clevershark at 10:37 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by clevershark at 10:37 AM on July 27, 2005
Isn't this illegal?
Oh right, Republicans can break the law with impunity.
posted by wakko at 10:37 AM on July 27, 2005
Oh right, Republicans can break the law with impunity.
posted by wakko at 10:37 AM on July 27, 2005
Was Larry Flint the head of a major political party in an enormous city at that time?
posted by flarbuse at 10:38 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by flarbuse at 10:38 AM on July 27, 2005
Funny how in your country schoolkids are sometimes suspended and arrested for "making terroristic threats" because they said something a lot more innocuous, but a GOP chairman can (in his own words) put a bounty on the head of a public official with nary any the "law and order" types (Republicans) finding much wrong with it.
posted by clevershark at 10:41 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by clevershark at 10:41 AM on July 27, 2005
How much do think a President would cost?
$80 million.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 10:45 AM on July 27, 2005
$80 million.
posted by Armitage Shanks at 10:45 AM on July 27, 2005
There' s a point somewhere here, and it's that Mayor Daley had nutin' to do with dat trunk scandal, dat hirin' scandal, or any utha scandals.
Keep in mind that Daley is far from being any sort of saint.
Also, stating that someone is on your "kill list" isn't exactly the best way to vent. Its hard to feel sympathetic for people using z and not even throwing in the appropriate apostrophe.
While the guy is lofty, its very funny. Chicago could use someone else besides the Daley bloodline sitting at the mayor's desk.
Also, if we try harder, maybe we could polarize this issue into Dem/Rep us vs. them even further!
posted by chibikeandy at 10:50 AM on July 27, 2005
Keep in mind that Daley is far from being any sort of saint.
Also, stating that someone is on your "kill list" isn't exactly the best way to vent. Its hard to feel sympathetic for people using z and not even throwing in the appropriate apostrophe.
While the guy is lofty, its very funny. Chicago could use someone else besides the Daley bloodline sitting at the mayor's desk.
Also, if we try harder, maybe we could polarize this issue into Dem/Rep us vs. them even further!
posted by chibikeandy at 10:50 AM on July 27, 2005
I'm all in favor of whistleblower rewards, doesn't much matter who's offering them. Its quite possible that the Chicago Democrats are dirty, rumors of corruption in Chicago are legendary. But nationwide I think the Republicans are more vulnerable to this sort of thing, and that Democrats should have a standing offer to anyone who is willing to become a whistleblower on the Republicans.
If it turns out that the Chicago Democrats are corrupt, its vastly to the advantage of Democrats nationwide to clean up Chicago so they can claim the moral high ground.
In theory this ultimately makes it more difficult for any politician to hide his dirty laundry, and that can't be a bad thing. Let's get a couple million in DLC money earmarked as rewards for Republican whistleblowers and go to town.
posted by sotonohito at 10:52 AM on July 27, 2005
If it turns out that the Chicago Democrats are corrupt, its vastly to the advantage of Democrats nationwide to clean up Chicago so they can claim the moral high ground.
In theory this ultimately makes it more difficult for any politician to hide his dirty laundry, and that can't be a bad thing. Let's get a couple million in DLC money earmarked as rewards for Republican whistleblowers and go to town.
posted by sotonohito at 10:52 AM on July 27, 2005
"The fans are standing up to them. The security guards are standing up to them. The peanut vendors are standing up to them. And by golly, if I could be down there, I'd be standing up to them."
(Slapshot - 1977)
posted by Smedleyman at 10:57 AM on July 27, 2005
(Slapshot - 1977)
posted by Smedleyman at 10:57 AM on July 27, 2005
It is unfathomable to me that Daley still continues to be elected mayor. The man and his family are more deeply rooted in corruption and insider politics than the Bushes could ever aspire to. Yet term after term folks put that stammering con man in office. He makes W actually look Ivy League.
Why the GOP needs a bounty on information linking Daley to corruption is another mystery to me. The guy builds an administration from the legion of "neighborhood" convicted felons to positions of authority and then acts suprised when the house of cards falls. Yet, again, Chicago just hands him another deck. Chicago deserves every bit of the wrought iron reaming it gets every time the taxman visits. Seriously, a huge factor in my leaving the city was the incredible corruption and apparent lack of concern amongst the citizenry. Fitzgerald was great but someone managed to re-task him to The Big Leak. I only hope the momentum he generated carries.
It's only a matter of time, Dick.
posted by Fezboy! at 11:01 AM on July 27, 2005
Why the GOP needs a bounty on information linking Daley to corruption is another mystery to me. The guy builds an administration from the legion of "neighborhood" convicted felons to positions of authority and then acts suprised when the house of cards falls. Yet, again, Chicago just hands him another deck. Chicago deserves every bit of the wrought iron reaming it gets every time the taxman visits. Seriously, a huge factor in my leaving the city was the incredible corruption and apparent lack of concern amongst the citizenry. Fitzgerald was great but someone managed to re-task him to The Big Leak. I only hope the momentum he generated carries.
It's only a matter of time, Dick.
posted by Fezboy! at 11:01 AM on July 27, 2005
Wait a second--that quote is from Slapshot, right? Did Skoien actually say anything like that? If not, then I don't see a huge difference between this and what Flynt did.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:07 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:07 AM on July 27, 2005
I thought this was absolutely hilarious, especially since the Tribune is reporting that the Cook County Republicans have only $3K and change in the bank right now. The Chicago Democrats and Republicans deserve each other.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 11:13 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by IshmaelGraves at 11:13 AM on July 27, 2005
Hi, we're the Illinois GOP-
we suck SO bad we have to get ALAN KEYES to run for us....
posted by stevejensen at 11:18 AM on July 27, 2005
we suck SO bad we have to get ALAN KEYES to run for us....
posted by stevejensen at 11:18 AM on July 27, 2005
Fezboy!
as corrupt as the Daleys may be
The Bushes are WAY worse when it comes to:
Gay rights
Ecology
Social programs
and job creation
here in Chicago, we got all dat stuff and more!
posted by stevejensen at 11:20 AM on July 27, 2005
as corrupt as the Daleys may be
The Bushes are WAY worse when it comes to:
Gay rights
Ecology
Social programs
and job creation
here in Chicago, we got all dat stuff and more!
posted by stevejensen at 11:20 AM on July 27, 2005
If not, then I don't see a huge difference between this and what Flynt did.
And like flarbuse commented previously in this very thread, "Was Larry Flint the head of a major political party in an enormous city at that time?" And the best response to this that I've heard was from an office mate, "What, did they think that the city of Chicago will turn around and elect a Republican mayor?"
posted by jperkins at 11:23 AM on July 27, 2005
And like flarbuse commented previously in this very thread, "Was Larry Flint the head of a major political party in an enormous city at that time?" And the best response to this that I've heard was from an office mate, "What, did they think that the city of Chicago will turn around and elect a Republican mayor?"
posted by jperkins at 11:23 AM on July 27, 2005
"Wait a second--that quote is from Slapshot, right?"
yep.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:24 AM on July 27, 2005
yep.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:24 AM on July 27, 2005
I thought this was absolutely hilarious, especially since the Tribune is reporting that the Cook County Republicans have only $3K and change in the bank right now.
That's like $1k for each of the them.
posted by jperkins at 11:26 AM on July 27, 2005
That's like $1k for each of the them.
posted by jperkins at 11:26 AM on July 27, 2005
as corrupt as the Daleys may be
The Bushes are WAY worse when it comes to:
Gay rights
Ecology
Social programs
and job creation
here in Chicago, we got all dat stuff and more!
This lesser of two evils bit is getting old.
posted by chibikeandy at 11:26 AM on July 27, 2005
The Bushes are WAY worse when it comes to:
Gay rights
Ecology
Social programs
and job creation
here in Chicago, we got all dat stuff and more!
This lesser of two evils bit is getting old.
posted by chibikeandy at 11:26 AM on July 27, 2005
Eh, I said not a huge difference. Sure, there's a difference, but my outrage meter is barely moving on this one. Plus, I wasn't entirely happy with Flynt's actions, either.
And, you know, Smedleyman made up that quote. It's a reward for information. Nobody's advocated bodily harm. There are a helluva lot bigger things to get outraged about.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:31 AM on July 27, 2005
And, you know, Smedleyman made up that quote. It's a reward for information. Nobody's advocated bodily harm. There are a helluva lot bigger things to get outraged about.
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:31 AM on July 27, 2005
Seriously, a huge factor in my leaving the city was the incredible corruption and apparent lack of concern amongst the citizenry.
Really? Where does one disgusted with corrupt Chicago move to? Toledo?
The GOP stunt is a sideshow. But there's no doubt that, for the first time in a long time, Daley has his hands full with real problems.
posted by theknacker at 11:32 AM on July 27, 2005
Really? Where does one disgusted with corrupt Chicago move to? Toledo?
The GOP stunt is a sideshow. But there's no doubt that, for the first time in a long time, Daley has his hands full with real problems.
posted by theknacker at 11:32 AM on July 27, 2005
From theknacker's link: "As Skoien made the announcement, state election records showed the county Republican Party, a vastly smaller operation than its dominant Democratic counterpart, has only $3,854 in its bank account. Skoien promised the party would acquire the $10,000 if it needed to pay the reward."
posted by jperkins at 11:35 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by jperkins at 11:35 AM on July 27, 2005
(I tried to capture the spirit of the thing.)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0507270142jul27,1,592011.story
Clark Pellet (chairman of the City of Chicago GOP - on phone): Are you crazy? We could all end up in the clinker for this. You can't put a bounty on a man's head.
Gary Skoien: I just did.
[Hangs up, Phone rings again]
Michael 'Killer' Shakman: Coach, I want that ten thousand dollars.
Gary Skoien: Ya gotta earn it, Killer.
Michael 'Killer' Shakman: My attitude's right.
---
In what way is this story not almost exactly like the bullshit going on in Slapshot? I'm not a big fan of Daley - he'd be maybe Ogie Ogilthorpe in this, or the manager, but Skoien makes a good Reg Dunlop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Skoien
http://www.illinoisleader.com/discussion/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=40&TopicID=2210
"Every scout in the GOP is out there tonight, with contracts in their pockets, and they're looking for talent. For winners. OOOOOOOOOH. All my years of publicity. Of the fashion shows and radiothons for nothing... They come here tonight... to scout the Cook County GOP... the toughest team in the Federal Government. Not this. Buncha... pussies."
Etc.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:38 AM on July 27, 2005
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/west/chi-0507270142jul27,1,592011.story
Clark Pellet (chairman of the City of Chicago GOP - on phone): Are you crazy? We could all end up in the clinker for this. You can't put a bounty on a man's head.
Gary Skoien: I just did.
[Hangs up, Phone rings again]
Michael 'Killer' Shakman: Coach, I want that ten thousand dollars.
Gary Skoien: Ya gotta earn it, Killer.
Michael 'Killer' Shakman: My attitude's right.
---
In what way is this story not almost exactly like the bullshit going on in Slapshot? I'm not a big fan of Daley - he'd be maybe Ogie Ogilthorpe in this, or the manager, but Skoien makes a good Reg Dunlop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Skoien
http://www.illinoisleader.com/discussion/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=40&TopicID=2210
"Every scout in the GOP is out there tonight, with contracts in their pockets, and they're looking for talent. For winners. OOOOOOOOOH. All my years of publicity. Of the fashion shows and radiothons for nothing... They come here tonight... to scout the Cook County GOP... the toughest team in the Federal Government. Not this. Buncha... pussies."
Etc.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:38 AM on July 27, 2005
well, for all of Daley's failings, he does keep the city running. it's a lot cleaner than i remember when i was a kid, and there's a lot more green. with all the corruption that has gone on, it's still hard to vote against results -- which is why i think clinton got himself re-elected, too. (hey, lewinski wasn't the first...)
posted by moz at 11:39 AM on July 27, 2005
posted by moz at 11:39 AM on July 27, 2005
I'm all in favor of whistleblower rewards
I'd disagree, based on the horrible info we got in Afghanistan. Very different circumstances, of course, but reward money negatively affects the whistleblower, IMHO. It's similar to taking a story to the Inquirer vs. local rag b/c Inquirer will pay money.
Also, what Mr. MoonPie said. If Skoien's tactics were as bad as politics get, I'd be very happy. It doesn't seem illegal to me at all, any more than paying a detective to investigate Daley (unless of course their "whistleblower" breaks the law to get the necessary info).
posted by mrgrimm at 11:50 AM on July 27, 2005
I'd disagree, based on the horrible info we got in Afghanistan. Very different circumstances, of course, but reward money negatively affects the whistleblower, IMHO. It's similar to taking a story to the Inquirer vs. local rag b/c Inquirer will pay money.
Also, what Mr. MoonPie said. If Skoien's tactics were as bad as politics get, I'd be very happy. It doesn't seem illegal to me at all, any more than paying a detective to investigate Daley (unless of course their "whistleblower" breaks the law to get the necessary info).
posted by mrgrimm at 11:50 AM on July 27, 2005
10K? That's peanuts. The city pays way better than that. Indeed, anyone who could "cream" the mayor is undoubtedly living in luxury.
Furthermore, in the unlikely event that Daley does actually suffer long term consequences due to scandal, it's not like the Republicans are going to benefit. It'll just be a different Democrat who ends up in office - a Democrat without any of the connections (connections that often benefit monied GOP folks) that Daley enjoys.
But it's all irrelevant. Daley will emerge unscathed. Perhaps with only 70% of the vote rather than 80%, but that's negligible. It's good to be the king.
posted by aladfar at 11:52 AM on July 27, 2005
Furthermore, in the unlikely event that Daley does actually suffer long term consequences due to scandal, it's not like the Republicans are going to benefit. It'll just be a different Democrat who ends up in office - a Democrat without any of the connections (connections that often benefit monied GOP folks) that Daley enjoys.
But it's all irrelevant. Daley will emerge unscathed. Perhaps with only 70% of the vote rather than 80%, but that's negligible. It's good to be the king.
posted by aladfar at 11:52 AM on July 27, 2005
stevejensen:
Daley support gay rights? He's not particularly active on the scene and personally finds gays repugnant. At best you might give him the label 'tolerant'. Credit for Chicago's open community goes more toward the GLBT activists who congregate on north Halsted than to the Daley administration. Export Boys Town to Bridgeport and let's see what happens...
Daley == ecology? Because the Chicago river isn't a giant fish kill zone, beaches on the lake don't close due to bacteria problems, the lake shore isn't being paved over and alleyways aren't being laced with so much poison that people's pets die from exposure. His administration wasn't responsible for running a private landfill in Bridgeport either.
Daley == social programs? Like the ones "relocating" public housing residents to get at the prime real estate proximal to the Loop even if replacement housing is imaginary thus pushing the social programs issue off on the suburbs? Like the public school libraries with research materials that still talk of landing on the moon in the future tense? Or do you mean the Hispanic Democratic Organization rampant with cronyism and a long line of stooges willing to take a fall in return for a few years of pocket-lining? Or maybe it is the subsidized drug treatment centers with counsellors selling whatever you'd like from their desk? Or maybe it's the promotion of minority-owned businesses that serve as fronts for members of his inner circle.
Daley == job creation? not unless you've got a truck and/or are willing to bring in the voters.
of course, maybe you weren't being serious...
oh, and theknacker -- Bloomington, Indiana if you were curious. Responsive local government, progressive-oriented policies, and just enough intrigue vis a vis the land developer lobby to make things interesting.
posted by Fezboy! at 11:53 AM on July 27, 2005
Daley support gay rights? He's not particularly active on the scene and personally finds gays repugnant. At best you might give him the label 'tolerant'. Credit for Chicago's open community goes more toward the GLBT activists who congregate on north Halsted than to the Daley administration. Export Boys Town to Bridgeport and let's see what happens...
Daley == ecology? Because the Chicago river isn't a giant fish kill zone, beaches on the lake don't close due to bacteria problems, the lake shore isn't being paved over and alleyways aren't being laced with so much poison that people's pets die from exposure. His administration wasn't responsible for running a private landfill in Bridgeport either.
Daley == social programs? Like the ones "relocating" public housing residents to get at the prime real estate proximal to the Loop even if replacement housing is imaginary thus pushing the social programs issue off on the suburbs? Like the public school libraries with research materials that still talk of landing on the moon in the future tense? Or do you mean the Hispanic Democratic Organization rampant with cronyism and a long line of stooges willing to take a fall in return for a few years of pocket-lining? Or maybe it is the subsidized drug treatment centers with counsellors selling whatever you'd like from their desk? Or maybe it's the promotion of minority-owned businesses that serve as fronts for members of his inner circle.
Daley == job creation? not unless you've got a truck and/or are willing to bring in the voters.
of course, maybe you weren't being serious...
oh, and theknacker -- Bloomington, Indiana if you were curious. Responsive local government, progressive-oriented policies, and just enough intrigue vis a vis the land developer lobby to make things interesting.
posted by Fezboy! at 11:53 AM on July 27, 2005
Bloomington, Indiana if you were curious. Responsive local government, progressive-oriented policies, and just enough intrigue vis a vis the land developer lobby to make things interesting.
I'll be the first to join you in praising what a great place Bloomington is -- but Indiana? Didn't Mitch Daniels campaign on a gay marriage ban? Every time I hear "Indiana" I think of the West Wing episode where a group of the staffers are stuck there. Totally droll in the characterization of most residents of that state. And mostly correct.
And regarding my previous comment about the appr. $6k shortfall in the Republicans bank acct to cover the bounty, I'd meant to add, "credit and spend, credit and spend."
posted by jperkins at 12:00 PM on July 27, 2005
I'll be the first to join you in praising what a great place Bloomington is -- but Indiana? Didn't Mitch Daniels campaign on a gay marriage ban? Every time I hear "Indiana" I think of the West Wing episode where a group of the staffers are stuck there. Totally droll in the characterization of most residents of that state. And mostly correct.
And regarding my previous comment about the appr. $6k shortfall in the Republicans bank acct to cover the bounty, I'd meant to add, "credit and spend, credit and spend."
posted by jperkins at 12:00 PM on July 27, 2005
MrMoonPie writes "my outrage meter is barely moving on this one."
I agree, the quote misrepresents the issue, and the reality is barely worth getting worried over.
I'd love to be able to write Metafilter: my outrage meter is barely moving on this one, but it ain't gonna happen any time soon.
posted by OmieWise at 12:04 PM on July 27, 2005
I agree, the quote misrepresents the issue, and the reality is barely worth getting worried over.
I'd love to be able to write Metafilter: my outrage meter is barely moving on this one, but it ain't gonna happen any time soon.
posted by OmieWise at 12:04 PM on July 27, 2005
Kwantsar writes "RTFA, clevershark."
I did read the (real) article. However the headline of the post quotes Skoien as announcing a bounty on Daley's head, which apparently is something Skoien never actually said. Frankly it's rather dishonest to write a headline like that. Of course then it really doesn't seem like a big deal (Republicans promising something they can't deliver? stop the presses!).
And yes, I have seen Slap Shot, but only the Quebec version (it was a big cultural thing here -- the first movie translated into Quebec French that included our peculiar brand of cussing).
posted by clevershark at 12:15 PM on July 27, 2005
I did read the (real) article. However the headline of the post quotes Skoien as announcing a bounty on Daley's head, which apparently is something Skoien never actually said. Frankly it's rather dishonest to write a headline like that. Of course then it really doesn't seem like a big deal (Republicans promising something they can't deliver? stop the presses!).
And yes, I have seen Slap Shot, but only the Quebec version (it was a big cultural thing here -- the first movie translated into Quebec French that included our peculiar brand of cussing).
posted by clevershark at 12:15 PM on July 27, 2005
jperkins: Compared to O'Bannon/Kernan, Mitch Daniels is a breath of fresh air in terms of cleaning up state government--specifically INDOT and their pet Interstate project. Kernan lost the election in part because of his undying devotion to the project. Further, it's not like Kernan was lobbying on the other side of that issue. But we were talking of municipal government IIRC, and Bloomington wins hands down--even on GLBT issues.
As for West Wing [and I hate to do this, but] is that something I would need a TV to appreciate? :)
posted by Fezboy! at 12:15 PM on July 27, 2005
As for West Wing [and I hate to do this, but] is that something I would need a TV to appreciate? :)
posted by Fezboy! at 12:15 PM on July 27, 2005
There' s a point somewhere here, and it's that Mayor Daley had nutin' to do with dat trunk scandal, dat hirin' scandal, or any utha scandals.
You lost me at "utha" - you must be from the east coast.
posted by SteveInMaine at 12:19 PM on July 27, 2005
You lost me at "utha" - you must be from the east coast.
posted by SteveInMaine at 12:19 PM on July 27, 2005
Eerily similar to Assassination Politics by Jim Bell. An interesting read if you have never checked it out.
posted by tirebouchon at 12:33 PM on July 27, 2005
posted by tirebouchon at 12:33 PM on July 27, 2005
Daley support gay rights? He's not particularly active on the scene and personally finds gays repugnant.
I think the Mayor is on record as supporting gay marriage. "Mayor Daley says he's looking forward to having the Games in the city, another expression of his support for the gay community. 'I'm excited about it because they're great citizens,' he said." Those are the Gay Games he's referring to.
beaches on the lake don't close due to bacteria problems
Can you fairly lay that one at the Mayor's door? I mean, how have his policies contributed to the beach closings? As for paving over the lake, I think you are just plain wrong on that one. There are more parks in Chicago than there have ever been.
Daley has many problems, no doubt. But to convince Chicago Mefites, you're going to need links supporting some of the claims you've made.
posted by theknacker at 12:34 PM on July 27, 2005
I think the Mayor is on record as supporting gay marriage. "Mayor Daley says he's looking forward to having the Games in the city, another expression of his support for the gay community. 'I'm excited about it because they're great citizens,' he said." Those are the Gay Games he's referring to.
beaches on the lake don't close due to bacteria problems
Can you fairly lay that one at the Mayor's door? I mean, how have his policies contributed to the beach closings? As for paving over the lake, I think you are just plain wrong on that one. There are more parks in Chicago than there have ever been.
Daley has many problems, no doubt. But to convince Chicago Mefites, you're going to need links supporting some of the claims you've made.
posted by theknacker at 12:34 PM on July 27, 2005
I, for one, am willing to offer $5 and a Gmail invite to anyone that has polaroids of Karl Rove in the jacuzzi with Scout Troop #17. Or photoshops thereof.
posted by jsavimbi at 12:34 PM on July 27, 2005
posted by jsavimbi at 12:34 PM on July 27, 2005
OmieWise, meebe it's cause your in Baltimore which I hear is worse, but here the alternative to the pharoh, apparently, is this circus sideshow and grandstanding.
Support for Daley isn't as deep as it once was, but it's broader.
I think the "he's corrupt, but the city works" thing is a holdover from his Dad and Royko's book, but it seems to be working.
So we get stuck with cops pissed off because their union is constantly being monkeyed around with, perhaps the last real bastion of the La Cosa Nostra in the U.S., keys handed to developers (yeah, Bubba Gump Shrimp there at Navy Peir, that's real Chicago), the illegal midnight bulldozing of Meigs' (which we're all sure isn't going to be developed), etc. etc. Pretty much what Fezboy! sed.
I'll concede some things do work. The city is beautiful. But I don't know that it's worth the trade off.
Our alternative however is a party that will run a carpet bagger from Ohio and there's nothing to worry about?
posted by Smedleyman at 12:35 PM on July 27, 2005
Support for Daley isn't as deep as it once was, but it's broader.
I think the "he's corrupt, but the city works" thing is a holdover from his Dad and Royko's book, but it seems to be working.
So we get stuck with cops pissed off because their union is constantly being monkeyed around with, perhaps the last real bastion of the La Cosa Nostra in the U.S., keys handed to developers (yeah, Bubba Gump Shrimp there at Navy Peir, that's real Chicago), the illegal midnight bulldozing of Meigs' (which we're all sure isn't going to be developed), etc. etc. Pretty much what Fezboy! sed.
I'll concede some things do work. The city is beautiful. But I don't know that it's worth the trade off.
Our alternative however is a party that will run a carpet bagger from Ohio and there's nothing to worry about?
posted by Smedleyman at 12:35 PM on July 27, 2005
I think encouraging people to come forward with information on dirty politicians is a good thing.
posted by caddis at 2:11 PM on July 27, 2005
posted by caddis at 2:11 PM on July 27, 2005
I'm just surprised that the newspapers bothered to send the interns to the press conference to hear what the Illinois GOP had to say.
posted by Arch Stanton at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2005
posted by Arch Stanton at 6:24 PM on July 27, 2005
I'm with theknacker on this one -- Fezboy kinda showed off his ign'rance.
Daley support gay rights? He's not particularly active on the scene and personally finds gays repugnant. At best you might give him the label 'tolerant'. Credit for Chicago's open community goes more toward the GLBT activists who congregate on north Halsted than to the Daley administration. Export Boys Town to Bridgeport and let's see what happens...
I'm not sure what "active on the scene" means, in this context. Wear a tutu at Halsted Fest?
Seriously, Daley may well be the most gay-friendly mayor of a major city outside of SF. Da Mare personally courted the Gay Games, for instance; and he's standing firm amid a redneck kerfuffle that managed to embarrass some suburban Pubbies to withdraw their endorsements.
Daley == ecology? Because the Chicago river isn't a giant fish kill zone, beaches on the lake don't close due to bacteria problems, the lake shore isn't being paved over and alleyways aren't being laced with so much poison that people's pets die from exposure. His administration wasn't responsible for running a private landfill in Bridgeport either.
That's right, the Chicago River isn't a kill zone anymore -- you can actually canoe it and the city is gradually working towards more recreational use. The beaches close not because of Chicago -- we have the Deep Tunnel, which serves the city and suburbs -- but largely due to runoff from agricultural activity in Wisconsin combined with sewage from Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Racine. The city has been aggressively responsible about this. The lake shore isnt' being paved over -- it's being preserved for recreational use, and the city not only had ankle-biter aggressiveness in coercing the Army Corps of Engineers to repair the riprap it built generations ago, but they plowed over an airport to make a frickin' prairie park.
Seriously, what are you on?
Daley == social programs? Like the ones "relocating" public housing residents to get at the prime real estate proximal to the Loop even if replacement housing is imaginary thus pushing the social programs issue off on the suburbs?
You should probably read up on the Gautreaux decision, a court order telling the CHA to move to scattered-site housing and end urban concentration. That decision was rendered by a federal court in, um, 1969. It's only happening now because ... well, because the CHA (which is not an agency directly controlled by the Mayor of Chicago) fought the order for, um, decades.
Like the public school libraries with research materials that still talk of landing on the moon in the future tense?
One of the signs that Daley was becoming more powerful than his pa was his ability to retake city control of the schools, which has resulted in fewer labor disputes, better-maintained schools, safer schools, better schools, and so on. Not that an urban school district won't have black holes. But in my lifetime, Daley and his acolytes at the schools have done a helluva lot more than one would ever have imagined possible in the days of everything crumbling and the teachers staging multi-week walkouts. The schools are one of Daley's legitimate successes.
Or do you mean the Hispanic Democratic Organization rampant with cronyism and a long line of stooges willing to take a fall in return for a few years of pocket-lining? Or maybe it is the subsidized drug treatment centers with counsellors selling whatever you'd like from their desk? Or maybe it's the promotion of minority-owned businesses that serve as fronts for members of his inner circle.
I don't know about the drug centers, but I agree on these two points. It's the Machine in full flower. They're a lot more careful than they used to be in the old days, but it's consistently shocking what they get away with.
Daley == job creation? not unless you've got a truck and/or are willing to bring in the voters.
Daley has a very smart vision of a smaller Chicago. I don't agree with all of it, such as the suburban strip malls and the regular bulldozing of good urban building stock for anonymous condos, but the Daley years have seen people living in the Loop, jobs comfortably available if not plentiful, and an overall economic resurgence that even attracted a Forbes 50 corporation to the city (even as others disappeared in buyouts).
And although I'd actually rather see a third airport in Peotone (or even, heck, Gary), what they're doing to build O'Hare into a 21st-century airport -- and an economic engine for the region -- is jaw-dropping.
Bloomington, Indiana if you were curious. Responsive local government, progressive-oriented policies, and just enough intrigue vis a vis the land developer lobby to make things interesting.
I'm sure it's nice, but you seem like someone consciously outside the city, with the typical distorted view. I live outside, now, but I try to keep up. ;-)
posted by dhartung at 9:56 PM on July 27, 2005
Daley support gay rights? He's not particularly active on the scene and personally finds gays repugnant. At best you might give him the label 'tolerant'. Credit for Chicago's open community goes more toward the GLBT activists who congregate on north Halsted than to the Daley administration. Export Boys Town to Bridgeport and let's see what happens...
I'm not sure what "active on the scene" means, in this context. Wear a tutu at Halsted Fest?
Seriously, Daley may well be the most gay-friendly mayor of a major city outside of SF. Da Mare personally courted the Gay Games, for instance; and he's standing firm amid a redneck kerfuffle that managed to embarrass some suburban Pubbies to withdraw their endorsements.
Daley == ecology? Because the Chicago river isn't a giant fish kill zone, beaches on the lake don't close due to bacteria problems, the lake shore isn't being paved over and alleyways aren't being laced with so much poison that people's pets die from exposure. His administration wasn't responsible for running a private landfill in Bridgeport either.
That's right, the Chicago River isn't a kill zone anymore -- you can actually canoe it and the city is gradually working towards more recreational use. The beaches close not because of Chicago -- we have the Deep Tunnel, which serves the city and suburbs -- but largely due to runoff from agricultural activity in Wisconsin combined with sewage from Milwaukee, Kenosha, and Racine. The city has been aggressively responsible about this. The lake shore isnt' being paved over -- it's being preserved for recreational use, and the city not only had ankle-biter aggressiveness in coercing the Army Corps of Engineers to repair the riprap it built generations ago, but they plowed over an airport to make a frickin' prairie park.
Seriously, what are you on?
Daley == social programs? Like the ones "relocating" public housing residents to get at the prime real estate proximal to the Loop even if replacement housing is imaginary thus pushing the social programs issue off on the suburbs?
You should probably read up on the Gautreaux decision, a court order telling the CHA to move to scattered-site housing and end urban concentration. That decision was rendered by a federal court in, um, 1969. It's only happening now because ... well, because the CHA (which is not an agency directly controlled by the Mayor of Chicago) fought the order for, um, decades.
Like the public school libraries with research materials that still talk of landing on the moon in the future tense?
One of the signs that Daley was becoming more powerful than his pa was his ability to retake city control of the schools, which has resulted in fewer labor disputes, better-maintained schools, safer schools, better schools, and so on. Not that an urban school district won't have black holes. But in my lifetime, Daley and his acolytes at the schools have done a helluva lot more than one would ever have imagined possible in the days of everything crumbling and the teachers staging multi-week walkouts. The schools are one of Daley's legitimate successes.
Or do you mean the Hispanic Democratic Organization rampant with cronyism and a long line of stooges willing to take a fall in return for a few years of pocket-lining? Or maybe it is the subsidized drug treatment centers with counsellors selling whatever you'd like from their desk? Or maybe it's the promotion of minority-owned businesses that serve as fronts for members of his inner circle.
I don't know about the drug centers, but I agree on these two points. It's the Machine in full flower. They're a lot more careful than they used to be in the old days, but it's consistently shocking what they get away with.
Daley == job creation? not unless you've got a truck and/or are willing to bring in the voters.
Daley has a very smart vision of a smaller Chicago. I don't agree with all of it, such as the suburban strip malls and the regular bulldozing of good urban building stock for anonymous condos, but the Daley years have seen people living in the Loop, jobs comfortably available if not plentiful, and an overall economic resurgence that even attracted a Forbes 50 corporation to the city (even as others disappeared in buyouts).
And although I'd actually rather see a third airport in Peotone (or even, heck, Gary), what they're doing to build O'Hare into a 21st-century airport -- and an economic engine for the region -- is jaw-dropping.
Bloomington, Indiana if you were curious. Responsive local government, progressive-oriented policies, and just enough intrigue vis a vis the land developer lobby to make things interesting.
I'm sure it's nice, but you seem like someone consciously outside the city, with the typical distorted view. I live outside, now, but I try to keep up. ;-)
posted by dhartung at 9:56 PM on July 27, 2005
Shit! Only five MeFites in Bloomington? What has my hometown come to?
posted by mwhybark at 11:23 PM on July 27, 2005
posted by mwhybark at 11:23 PM on July 27, 2005
I spent five years in Bloomington when I was at IU, does that count? : )
posted by SisterHavana at 7:32 AM on July 28, 2005
posted by SisterHavana at 7:32 AM on July 28, 2005
John Kass nails it.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/premium/printedition/Thursday/chi-0507280180jul28,1,3553559.column
posted by Smedleyman at 10:35 AM on July 28, 2005
http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/premium/printedition/Thursday/chi-0507280180jul28,1,3553559.column
posted by Smedleyman at 10:35 AM on July 28, 2005
I think that American voters need to accept as a given that any professional politician is either corrupt, a rigid ideologue, or a complete megalomaniac, and just vote on the issues. And of those three the corrupt ones worry me the least. At least i understand their motives.
posted by jonmc at 1:35 PM on July 28, 2005
posted by jonmc at 1:35 PM on July 28, 2005
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posted by Smedleyman at 10:09 AM on July 27, 2005