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Monday, Dec 6, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

It had to happen sooner or later. Frankly, I’m getting kinda sick of the hype myself. He hasn’t even made a vote yet and he’s still treated as the Second Coming.

Okay Illinoisians, brace yourselves. Chicagoist is getting just a little sick of Barack Obama, or at least the media’s portrayal of him.

Click through for the whole thing. Pretty funny.

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Welch profile

Monday, Dec 6, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

The Times-Press (Small Newspaper Group) has a very good review of Sen. Pat Welch’s career today.

The gavelâ€™s slam reverberated through the chamber and the senators nearly jumped out of their skins.

â€œWould he just stop,â€ a lawmaker growled under his breath as Sen. Patrick Welch banged the gavel one more time.

But Welch wielded the gavel with the determination of a Navy captain at the wheel of his ship. He helped plow the state Senate through political maelstroms during his 22 years in the legislature only to see his own political fortunes flounder.

The source of his political demise was unexpected â€“ a local businessman who had never sought public office before. On November 2, Welch lost to Republican trucking company owner Gary Dahl.

In politics, victory has many parents but defeat is an orphan.

Read the whole thing.

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WiFi

Monday, Dec 6, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

This is a good idea, of course.

Library patrons now have wireless Internet access in 76 of the city’s 79 library locations.

Chicago Public Library officials today said Chicago has the first major urban library system to roll out a wireless network on this scale. Eventually all of the city’s libraries will allow patrons free access.

The city Department of Business and Information Systems spent $81,000 purchasing the wireless equipment, and the library system expects to spend $14,000 a year maintaining it.

Maybe the CTA, Metra and RTA could learn something from the library. Commuters would probably pay extra (a monthly subscription card, perhaps) for WiFi service, and that could help bring in extra cash. Not sure if it’s feasible, but it couldn’t hurt to look into it.

Frankly, I’m surprised Mayor Daley hasn’t announced a WiFi pilot program for the Loop. He’s supposed to have a reputation for being ahead of the technology curve, but he’s falling behind on this one.

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Monday, Dec 6, 2004 - Posted by Rich Miller

One of the shows most popular with Republicans, especially Republican women ages 18 to 34, turned out to be “Will & Grace,” the sitcom about gay life in New York. As a result, while Mr. Bush was shoring up his conservative credentials by supporting a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, his advertising team was buying time on a program that celebrates gay culture.

The Bush team broadcast commercials 473 times on “Will & Grace” in markets across the country from Jan. 1 to Nov. 2, according to the Wisconsin project. (The Kerry campaign broadcast commercials 859 times on the show.)

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