This is as good a time as any to pick a fight with Chicago aldermen — the public thoroughly disgusted by a federal investigation that has left the City Council’s most powerful member severely wounded and threatening others.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot pushed to take full advantage Monday on her first day in office.
She started by using her inauguration speech to give the aldermen a visual demonstration that the public is on her side in her call for reform, employing the audience at the Wintrust Arena to help make them squirm. […]
But the more interesting part came a minute later when Lightfoot called out public officials who “cut shady backroom deals.”
“Stopping it isn’t just in the city’s interest. It’s in the City Council’s interest,” Lightfoot said.
When she delivered that line, she struck a tough guy pose, turned around and looked at the aldermen directly — among them Ald. Edward M. Burke, currently facing federal charges.
The crowd went wild, seeing exactly what she was doing. Then Lightfoot began a slow clap and raised her arms to instruct the aldermen to get to their feet, too.
This was how she led up to her comments on taking away “the worst abuses of the so-called aldermanic privilege.”
* After reading a few stories quoting aldermen whining about how Lightfoot has treated them, I texted a buddy of mine who is also a Statehouse lobbyist…
Me: So, do you think I could away with writing: “Most politicians come across as dominant people, but they’re really submissives”?
Buddy: Better than fragile ego maniacs.
Me: Probably so.
Buddy: Better framing is politicians are mortal. No amount of popularity or ascension on the political ladder will ever be enough to mask their insecurities.
Me: That’s pretty good. I think I’ll steal it
Buddy: Have at it. I’ll be spending the next 2 weeks exploiting those insecurities.
