20 Comments - Seymour Butz - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 1:43 pm: Something’s up with Stone and Blago. Blago was involved in races up there to ’send Stone a message’. Apparently, Bernie wants to send him one back. What, Blago hasn’t done enough to piss off the Jewish base yet? Oy. - Carl Nyberg - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 2:15 pm: It seems Peraica will challenge Laura Washington’s conjecture about reformers without significant Black support. - Leroy - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 2:20 pm: Missouri applauded for tort reform; reports says Illinois lags So what is our grade? D or F? This report needs to assign a letter grade to how Illinois is performing like all this rest of these types of reports. They don’t need to mention the fix is ’spend more money’, that is implied by the statement “a new report shows” - Levois - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 2:34 pm: If Washington says reformers can’t win without blacks, hispanics, or gays. Is it possible that she might only be talking about Democratic reformers. - West Side Rider - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 4:07 pm: I’d imagine Claypool did well with gays. How did the Hispanic vote break in the Board President election? - ron - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 4:40 pm: this effort by black politicans is laying the groundwork for the chicago mayoral campaign. pick up some of the white liberal vote and some of the latino vote(let’s make a deal) and welcome jesse jackson, new mayor of chicago. hello, control of the senate by the republicans. - Carl Nyberg - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 5:08 pm: Hispanics vote at such a low rate, it’s hard to imagine the voting block being key to any coalition. Nice to have, yes; essential, no. - thomas paine - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 5:19 pm: Without a strong gubernatorial race Peraica doesn’t stand a chance. With it he has George Mason-like odds. - Marta Elena - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 5:22 pm: Rich, Just read your article at the Daily Southtown. I have to say that this south suburban coalition was building in 2002 with the elections of two state reps in the area - not in 2004 with Obama’s campaign. Just my observation. As for Mayor Daley…… I was researching the economic development issues of the south suburban region in 2002 when I saw a press conference in the City of Chicago - and I remember the economic development director stating ‘I don’t care about the region - I only care about the City of Chicago’. I remember that his lack of regional economic development concerns was upsetting. The northwest, north, southwest, and even the western suburbs surrounding the City of Chicago were thriving. However, the south suburbs are a different story. At some point in time, you have to say, ENOUGH is ENOUGH! The South Suburban political leaders have been struggling for economic development initiatives for so long. On that note, when Blago’s administration came up with the 5 region economic development plan. I was waiting - just like a kid on Christmas morning - I put WAY too much faith in this Governor. Than to realize that the 5 region economic development plan was simply a press release with no substantive public policy. Disconnected in the South Suburbs……….. - Gregor - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 6:02 pm: I just got back from seeing Blago’s campaign speech in Chicago today: it was thinly disguised as official state business, stumping for women’s reproductive rights. He spent a lot of time trying to confuse the RU-486/Plan-B/”morning after” pill with regular women’s birth control pills, implying that pharmacists were denying ALL birth control to women, plus evading the law and lying so as not to have to comply. The hypocrisy of such statements from him aside,(banning distribution of free federally-supplied condoms to sexually active teens but promoting an abortifacient) you could not miss his campaign staff’s good works adorning the venue. The Guv announced that statewide, state-supplied posters would be going up in every pharmacy to advise women about their rights to their meds…. and by a complete coincidence, every poster carries, not a seal from the state medical association, the Illinois courts, nor the Dept. of Public Health, or even the Attorney General or State Police, but only BLAGO’S NAME AND SEAL ON EACH POSTER. I guess we should be glad you showed some restraint and left your PICTURE off the things at least. You know, plastering his name on state-funded signs and bumper stickers his first term at the state fair could be excused as inexperience and over-eagerness. But he’s been cheating the campaign rules this way ever since that time and it’s past time to call him on it… So, Governor, is your 15-plus-million-dollar campaign fund paying for these campaign posters with your name on them, or are you once again sticking it to the taxpayers to fund campaign materials? Who got the contract to print these signs? That’s a LOT of signs, did the contract go out for competitive bid? Is there any reason in particular YOUR name has to be plastered all over such communications instead of the State Of Illinois? And why does a regular prole like me have to ask these questions, where were the reporters? Have they just given up trying to ask anything but softball questions? As to Milorad’s new mantra this week of referring to the Treasurer as the Ryan-Topinka mob, and pointing to 20-year-old votes she made, that’s low. Lower still is painting Topinka as pro-gun and anti-assault weapons ban based on old votes, when If I recall correctly, you didn’t back a similar bill back in your Washington back-bench days. I’m just boiling mad, because I feel like you’re a pickpocket, taking tax dollars out of my wallet to fund your campaign messages of division and deception when you can darn well afford to pay for them yourself. Masquerading as “just doing your job” while slandering your campaign rival in every speech is transparently cheating. Man up, Governor, and pay for this crap out of your OWN pocketbook, and leave the tax money to pay for the incredible debts you’ve burdened us with. Campaign rhetoric should be kept separate and apart from official business, mister Rock your Ethics world. -Sorry, Rich, he really got under my skin today, feel free to edit that if it’s too much, but it feels about right. - Wow - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 7:52 pm: Claypool’s appeal was limited to those who would be angry enough about his issues that they would bother to vote. The problem is that most of those who did vote did not agree with his assessment of County Government and that those who did not vote clearly rejected Claypool as a “reformer.” The type of “reform” Claypool was advocating had good traction amongst suburban voters, but clearly not in the city. This is interesting, considering Claypool’s main claim to fame was how he “resurrected” the Chicago Park District. Theoretically, if his version of reform was accepted, it would be most accepted amongst the greatest beneficiaries of his leadership. Part of the flawed analysis of the election is that African American voters should be instantly allured by someone singing a “reform” song, and that anyone who calls themself a reformer is one that will bring reforms to the community. Claypool’s reforms were quite distinct from those that characterized true “reform” campaigns like Harold Washington’s. In 1983 the message was about opening up government to all groups, representing more than just one group in leadership roles, primarily African Americans and Latinos. Contrast this with Claypool’s rather limited approach to “reform”–no tax cuts, cut “bloat,” cut “waste” blah blah. Claypool’s message was clearly targeted to white suburban voters. The “…oh, and by the way” message was that he’ll somehow “help the poor” with these cuts. White voters bought it, black voters did not. Rightly so. In that context, it is easy to see how an African American voter can reconcile his vote for Washington in 1983 (and for that matter Obama in 2004) with a vote for Stroger in 2006. Washington’s move for “reform” empowered African Americans and Stroger epitomized that to African American voters. As much as white suburbanites and liberals would like to impose their concept of “reform” on African Americans and Latinos, their definition–and the only one that mattered on election day–is quite different and more realpolitik than Claypool’s rhetoric was. - anon - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 8:17 pm: good god !!! someone STOP OBY before he completely destroys the GOP ! 14th central committeeman ??? Co chairman too??? holy mother of god !! that dude just will not quit. he is power hungry & bound and determined to bust kjellander. won’t someone please lock him in a room till at least april 20th. who’s running the dairy ??? - 47th Ward - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 8:49 pm: Wow, you are truly amazing. Yes, Claypool appealed to “white suburbanites and liberals.” The problem for Claypool is that “white suburbanites and liberals” don’t vote in Democratic primaries in large enough numbers, and they certainly aren’t angry enough. Why should they be? Why should “white suburbanites and liberals” care about County government? I mean, except for their tax bill, “white suburbanites and liberals” don’t have too much to do with County government. The children of “white suburbanites and liberals” aren’t getting beat up in the juvenile detention center. “White suburbanites and liberals” aren’t waiting in line for health care at County clinics, or for prescriptions at the hospitals. “White suburbanites and liberals” aren’t using the Forest Preserves for their family picnics, and don’t experience the criminally filthy, degraded, neglected and dangerous system. That somebody challenged the system and made 48% of the voters care about these issues is what I’m most proud of. For me, someone who believes in Cook County government and that it can be much, much better (for blacks, whites, browns, yellows, pinks and purples), I don’t care so much about your criticisms of Claypool. Tell me why you supported John Stroger, not why you opposed Forrest Claypool. Claypool may not have been the preferred messenger, but can anyone really argue in favor of Stroger’s management record? Do you really think President Stroger’s leadership has been such a wonderful thing for Cook County? Really? - Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 10:01 pm: Earlier in the day, Topinka’s position was that she opposes mandatory car seats and seat belt laws. Now Topinka’s position is that less government intrusion is better, unless it’s already the law? I can’t wait to hear her reconcile that with her support for new abortion restrictions. LOL! To quote Todd Vandermyde, “She’s flip-flopping like a fish out of water.” - Anonymous - Monday, Mar 27, 06 @ 11:26 pm: Judy’s movement on positions is like a twitch compared to Rod’s spasms. He’s the guy who once wanted a ban on all handguns. - Woe is us - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 8:35 am: Rich, Have you read EE’s letter to the editor in Tuesday’s Sun-Times? He’s railing against your “angry deportation piece”…enjoy. - Wow - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 9:47 am: 47th: I certainly do prefer John Stroger’s level of commitment to the mission of this government over Claypool’s, and that is what resonated with most of his voters on election day. I won’t rehash how Claypool got 46% of the vote (actually), but I am glad you acknowledged he was a poor messenger. And you really can’t separate the message from the messenger. John Stroger recognized the need for a new County Hospital long before he became President. He recognized the need for single member districts long before he became President. He doubled the number of ambulatory clinics to help decentralize the health care system during his time as President. The golf course were privatized under President Stroger and a new domestic violence courthouse was built. The County Highway system is arguably the best maintained and developed of all of the local infrastructure operations in the region. Much of this, on the County government side anyway, done without raising property taxes for years. Now that the campaign is over, it’s important to stop the misinformation camapign about County Government. Do you realize that the “daily drip” of Detention Center stories emenates from the SAME ACLU report, that these are NOT new occurences? Do you realize that new criminal background checks were performed on every employee of the Center? Do you realize that the President asked for a commission to investigate the operations at the Center and that Claypool argued against it? Do you realize that the hospital went from filling one million prescriptions to four million since it opened? Do you realize that the County proposed a larger hospital but the State Helath Facilities Board would not allow it to be built? Do you acknowledge, in comparison to the City Government where Forrest Claypool was the day-to-day manager, that Cook County has largely been free of WIDESPREAD corruption? There have been no criminial conspiracies on the scale of what happened on Forrest Claypool’s watch–both as Daley’s COS and as his Campaign Manager. As for white suburbanites and liberals, they and you fall into the same trap that Steinberg and Zorn fell into, which is attempting to dictate to African Americans what their issues should be and who their candidates should be. Reciting the Claypool litany? There you go, again. If African American voters are most impacted by the “wrongs” you describe, why didn’t they vote that way? Perhaps African Americans saw that, on balance they get very good service from County government and John Stroger, or is that something that just cannot be fathomed by you? Whatever their motivation, it would speak well to white liberals and suburbanites and 47th warders like you to understand that motivation as opposed to attempting to change it. BTW-still haven’t answered why, if Claypool was the modern day Daniel Burnham at the Park District, his message sunk like the Titanic in the city. Message or messenger or both? - Woe is us - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 3:53 pm: Nyberg wrote: “Hispanics vote at such a low rate, it’s hard to imagine the voting block being key to any coalition. Nice to have, yes; essential, no.” If memory serves me, it was the Latino vote in Chicago that allowed Blago to beat Vallas in the Dem primary for Governor. I think the city’s black vote went mostly Vallas’ way. Anyway, the point is that Latinos got Rod the Democratic nomination and from there he went on to win the general. He may have beaten Ryan without the Latino vote, but he wouldn’t have been in the race without it. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 28, 06 @ 11:25 pm: Wow, I realize many things you say about President Stroger are accurate, and I don’t really care what you say about Claypool. He lost, the President was re-elected and the President should give you a raise for your expert spin and revisionist history. But please don’t interpret anything I’ve posted as an attempt to dictate to anyone else the issues and candidates to embrace. I’m just speaking for myself, someone who follows this subject closely and knows we can do a lot better. As for the record you so strongly support, here some things you should realize: Dick Phelan got the certificate of need approved by the state, and raised the taxes that largely funded the construction of John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County. George Dunne, Stroger’s mentor for almost twenty years on the Board, prevented single member districts from seeing the light of day. Until Phelan got it passed. Stroger was forced to privatize the FPD golf courses, mostly because the entire FPD was on the brink of bankruptcy due to the utter mismanagement that occured under Stroger’s watch (granted, Phelan appointed the former Supt., but Stroger kept him on). And despite the County tax levy, the FPD levy has been increased to the maximum allowed under tax caps every single year Stroger has been President. As for the County Highway Department, one of the ways its managed to stay afloat is by dumping many of the roads/bridges under its jurisdiction. Local municipalities would rather be responsible for the maintenance, that way they can get the potholes fixed. Another red herring you offered: the President’s call for another “blue ribbon committee” to examine the Detention Center. It was a ridiculous dodge and should have been opposed by anyone who’s been paying attention to the repeated allegations, from the ACLU to the John Howard Association to DCFS, CPS and lots of other independent groups and agencies. Spare me the suggestion that “Claypool argued against it.” Damn right he did. I’ve worked for the County. I’ve been to almost every board meeting for more than a decade. John Stroger is an honorable man and should have retired with his reputation somewhat intact, and a fine legacy to boot. He didn’t, and because for me he represents a style of government that should be retired, he needs to be held accountable for his record. Your defense of his record is full of half-truths and misstatements. I won’t let it stand. Not because I supported Claypool, but because it is false. - Wow - Wednesday, Mar 29, 06 @ 10:37 am: It’s hardly false, and I’ve been to the meetings you’re talking about and then some. In fact, I’m sure I’ve been at more. There’s a difference between being a commissioner and being the President. All the things we’ve talked about are things that happened when John Stroger became President. On all those matters, his position, taken long before anyone else, prevailed once he became President. I know what Phelan did as it relates to the hospital, but so what? If John Stroger did not run and win relection in 1998, Aurie Pucinski would have killed the project. Despite your best efforts, you can’t minimize the role John Stroger played in getting that project done. What’s the point about Dunne? It’s Stroger’s position from the beginning that was the point, and his position was that there should be single member districts. What you describe as “dumping” roads is EXACTLY what Claypool and Quigley have been proposing should be done with the ENTIRE system. My point is this: drive a state road, a city road and a County road. On balance, you will find the County roads better maintained, better plowed during a snow and engineered better. As for the golf courses, the President was not forced into privatization. If you know John Stroger, he’s never forced into anything. Golf course privatization took place under the right circumstances and when the right firm came along. But you must admit, it happened under John Stroger. As for the JTDC, there is still no other way to characterize the stories about the center other than a campaign to undermine its credibility. IF someone has done something wrong for which they should be put in jail, fine. Lock them up and throw away the key. But when a “news” organization runs one story after another from the SAME report and treats them like new occurences, that’s disingenuous and you know it. Clearly, you see some good in John Stroger’s presidency, because you didn’t even mention the doubling of the clinics, the domestic violence court, the traffic court. My position was that African Americans, and others who evaluated his overall record certainly saw the good in John Stroger and certainly believed he deserved an endorsement last Tuesday. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.