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Today’s quotable

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The former chairman of the legislative Black Caucus on Wednesday endorsed Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the April 7 runoff just six months after delivering a rare public tongue-lashing to the mayor and Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy.

State Rep. Ken Dunkin (D-Chicago) acknowledged he has a contentious “history with the mayor,” particularly when it comes to crime statistics that on Wednesday showed a troubling spike in homicides and shootings during the first quarter of the year. […]

But he also argued that Emanuel has “grown” and “matured” after being forced to fight for his political life in Chicago’s first-ever mayoral runoff.

“You see him engaged a little differently [and] better. He’s out in the communities . . . I see him having two ears, instead of just one mouthpiece. The bottom line is, he is listening more and he’s gonna be that much better of a mayor going forward,” Dunkin said. […]

When Emanuel heard himself described as having “two ears, instead of just one mouthpiece,” he turned to Dunkin and joked, “Your time at the mike’s over.”

Heh.

But that’s not our quotable.

* The endorsement sparked some questions online about whether this was an official Legislative Black Caucus endorsement. It wasn’t, explained Chuy Garcia’s political director…

I think the phrase Clem may have been searching for was “Not the brightest porch light on the block,” but still…

Yikes.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:11 am

Comments

Cornel West. jeez.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:13 am
It’s “brightest banana in the bunch” or “brightest bulb on the (Christmas) tree.”

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:16 am
Clem Balanoff - the very poster child of nepotism - insulting someone else’s qualifications. That’s rich.

Comment by so... Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:18 am
Rahm got more engaged listening in the neighborhoods only after he failed to avoid a runoff. Not much of a compliment.

Glad to hear Dunkin is no longer the head of the black caucus. Has he won his third Century award yet?

Comment by walker Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:19 am
many have said the same thing about Clem

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:19 am
My father always said, “Not the brightest bulb in the box” or “Not the brightest star in the sky”. I prefer, “Sharp as a bowling ball” or “An intellect rivaled only by garden tools”.

Comment by Slick Willy Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:22 am
Does anyone keep accurate Century Club records? My assumption is that Dunkin is the leader among active members but I don’t know for sure.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:26 am
Yeah, because if you are going to refute a local guy endorsement, use people from out of town…

Brilliant!

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:32 am
===Has he won his third Century award yet? ===

He won it three times, but his name is only on the trophy twice because he won it twice in a row and for some reason nobody bothered to take the trophy from him and update it.

lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:35 am
“He won it three times, but his name is only on the trophy twice because he won it twice in a row and for some reason nobody bothered to take the trophy from him and update it.”

Can’t. Stop. Laughing.

Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:46 am
I thought the expression was “he’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier,” but whichever you prefer, Dunkin is a good example of dim.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 11:17 am
If the bulb fits…

Comment by phocion Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 11:28 am
Sorry but in Chicago that is a common phrase, not the brightest bulb in the bunch.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 12:05 pm
@Amilia

He’ll take any shot, however many degrees of separation, at Obama.

I think the most cynical player is Bernie Sanders.

A progressive candidate going nowhere + free media = a good a place as any to kick off the presidential campaign. “Can I haz your mailing list?”

Comment by HappyToaster Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 12:51 pm
And Maxine Waters is?

Comment by Todd Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 2:38 pm
Many moons ago, I rode a state plane with Ken Dunkin. The dude was boasting about…wait for it…how popular he was in high school. No lie.

smh.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 3:05 pm
have to agree with “brightest bulb on the tree”-Others:
“one beer short of a six-pack”
“elevator doesn’t go all of the way to the top”
“one brick short of a load”

Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 3:08 pm
They do say “brightest bulb in the bunch” and “box” etc. in Chicago. I prefer “not the sharpest tack in the box.” Doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. And I have to say–although listening to Dunkin during floor debate can be frustrating (never actually responding to what is being said to him), he did once use “bailiwick” correctly and with good dramatic flair. I give him props for that.

Comment by late to the party Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 5:19 pm
In my Navy family, we prefer “not packing a full seabag.” The lady folk sometimes use “a few croissants short of a buffet.”

I remember going to talk to Dunkin about a pension bill and him asking me if I knew any “investments” where he could “double my money real quick.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 7:39 pm
AA, I admire you resisting the tempting.

“Why, yes, Rep. Dunkin, I know of a number of investments where you could double your money real quick. Now, let me tell you about the opportunities on the ground floor of the Nebraska Riviera. For a certified check right now, you could…..”

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Apr 7, 15 @ 10:43 pm