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* Columnist at the state’s largest newspaper versus some guy with 42 Twitter followers…
Illinois politics: @JeanneIves hammers Gov Rauner The Chicago Way. CPS boss Forrest Claypool is severed from the mayoral body politic. And @KennedyforIL targets Boss Madigan minion Joe Berrios. #twill My column: https://t.co/1MBsJSvDQZ
— John Kass (@John_Kass) December 9, 2017
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:08 pm
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Kass’s name makes much more sense if you envision him as a talk radio station west of the Mississippi.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:10 pm
==Columnist at the state’s largest newspaper versus some guy with 42 Twitter followers…==
Yeah, Damon should know better than to punch down like that.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:10 pm
And Kass got his “kass” handed to him in that exchange.
Comment by TominChicago Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:11 pm
“Boss” Madigan, meet “Pavlovian Response” Kass.
Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:12 pm
Kass, you will never be Royko. NEVER.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:14 pm
Go get ‘em Damon.
Comment by Lt Guv Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:14 pm
I always wonder if people like Kass play dumb, or are just flat-out dumb. Dude, the world isn’t binary. Illinois can have problems and still be a great state. You don’t have to be drinking anyone’s kool aid to think that.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:14 pm
Yikes. Kass got kind of embarrassed by the guy with only 42 followers.
Comment by So_Ill Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:15 pm
Kass tries way too hard, all of the time.
Comment by Buford Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:16 pm
Kass is right at his weight class. Figuratively speaking.
Comment by Albany Park Patriot Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:17 pm
Kass needs a foil.
Kass has all these things he wants to say, but needs a foil to first swoons then use that foil to go after the foil, even ignoring what the other is saying.
I find, my favorite twitters to read are @StatehouseChick and @GrantWehrli. Sand kinda thing going on. McQueary drones on witybher talking points, Mr. Wehrli, almost like clockwork, will bring up someone he trolls in “whatabout” when a “Democrat” gets a pass.
To this specific to Kass, I read his tweets, just last week it was about Man U and Man City… sandwiched between “the Chicago way”, “you don’t understand”, and of course “Madigan”…
… it wouldn’t be too bad if those he’s responding to Actually we’re addressing what he’d hope to push… and here’s where Kass goes after the guy with less than 50 followers.
Indeed.
Twitter is weird.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:20 pm
The Tribune has hidden John Kass behind a paywall, to the delight of everyone. Let’s not go screwing up a good thing by letting him out.
Comment by The Captain Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:20 pm
“Yikes. Kass got kind of embarrassed by the guy with only 42 followers.”
He’s about to pick up a 43rd. Just for standing up to that talentless blowhard.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:21 pm
Kass and Mihalopolous are two of the pettiest “journalists” I’ve ever read. They pick the dumbest fights and exhibit the most obnoxious sense of humor on their twitter feeds.
Comment by Bogardus Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:21 pm
Well said Damon. Kass schtick is limited to name calling. Thoughtful analysis is left to the 3rd graders.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:22 pm
Wow, what a striking example of Kass’ inability to comprehend the world beyond his own rather shallow existence. Simply by being thoughtful and showing some knowledge of life elsewhere, Damon exhausts Kass’ intellectual capability in about two tweets.
Kass knows as much about Illinois politics as he does about how to prepare chicken.
Comment by Louis Capricious Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:28 pm
–Kass tries way too hard, all of the time. –
Really? I don’t see any effort at all, at anything. At writing. Gathering facts. Making a compelling argument. Presenting positive measures.
It’s just the same old chronic whining, day after day, a sort of pornographic dirty talk for the perpetual victims who are into that sort of thing.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:30 pm
Like WS said, Kass reminds me of Bob Greene during the Baby Richard days. SSDD
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:37 pm
New(er) to Illinois, but can anyone actually explain how Kass has his own column?
Comment by LuckyCharms Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:37 pm
No personal experience with LA, but I’ve had a couple of businesspersons tell me that open requests for bribes by LA officials are common, and that Illinois “corruption” is saintlike by comparison.
Comment by Whatever Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:38 pm
“We still have it relatively good around here…” I still maintain that if you ask 100 people randomly selected around the country, “Are gas prices too high?” you’ll get at least 99 “yes” votes. But compare our gas prices to Europe or South America and they’re actually quite low. It’s all where you start.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:38 pm
Showin’ his Kass.
Comment by olddog Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:39 pm
I didn’t know dogs were allowed on Twitter?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:40 pm
There should be a “Because…Madigan” open thread during some light time of the year like around a holiday or on April Fool’s Day perhaps where we can each tell something bad that happened to us because of Madigan.
Because Madigan, my wife left me for a door-to-door salesman that lives in a van down by the river.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:42 pm
–New(er) to Illinois, but can anyone actually explain how Kass has his own column?–
He’s what the rather effete managers of the Trib at the time thought a Chicago tough guy was like.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:42 pm
John Kass - the poor man’s, poor man’s Trump.
Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:42 pm
Kass is part of the anti-Madigan combine and appears to be fueling and possibly writing Rauner’s anti-Madigan ads.
So predictable. When you lack skills of your own, you deflect to blaming others. He is like a child.
Comment by Winnin’ Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:49 pm
The tweeter says, “different degrees of bad behavior” and implies that politicians stuffing their pockets is not as bad as inflicting harm on citizens.
Kass is right. All of the above happens in Chicago and Illinois. It’s not right and it should be called out at every opportunity.
Comment by cdog Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:49 pm
Why do Kennedy’s suits always look like they are a bit too tight for him?
Comment by DarkHorse Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:49 pm
==Kass is right.==
Go read his Tweets again. It has nothing to do with being right and everything to do with being Donald Trump level petty and childish.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:53 pm
This is one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever seen on this site. Kass realized a long time ago he lacks the talent or wit of Royko and decided to go full ideologue.
Comment by WSJ Paywall Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:53 pm
Kass suffers from MDS - Madigan Derangement Syndrome.
Comment by Smitty Irving Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 2:54 pm
No K(l)aas Kass at it again.
Comment by Yiddishcowboy Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:02 pm
I can always get a good laugh at the comments section and the “avoid blaming Madigan too much rule”
Comment by NeverPoliticallyCorrect Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:03 pm
“I always wonder if people like Kass play dumb, or are just flat-out dumb.”
C. Flat-out dumb person who thinks he’s playing dumb.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:05 pm
“everything to do with being Donald Trump level petty and childish.”
That’s fun. I find that most of the attempted argumentation here are petty, childish, personal attacks.
Only periodically, does the discussion rise to the level of just talking about the premises and conclusions, without the personal insults.
To the subject, one thing Illinois is very good at is Outmigration. We are number one when looking at the last five years. I can’t wait until the 2017 numbers are revealed.
Comment by cdog Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:07 pm
=Kass is right+
Definitely read the tweets again. The world is gray, not black and white. Just because something is worse than something else, doesn’t mean the latter is ok. It’s the difference between sexual harassment and preying on underage teenagers. One is bad; one is really bad. Know the difference?
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:07 pm
cdog: And there you are with the binaries again. Illinois is good at outmigration, therefore it must be Madigan’s fault. What you (or any Raunerite) has yet to show is how the TA will reverse (and not worsen) that trend.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:12 pm
== New(er) to Illinois, but can anyone actually explain how Kass has his own column? ==
My take:
Kass was a top City Hall reporter in the 80’s and 90’s who broke a lot of stories through hard work and the numerous connections he had to political types he met growing up on the South Side and working for community newspapers. He was also among the first working reporters to consistently push back against Richard M. Daley’s public relations spin when most of the press was eating it up. When legendary columnist Mike Royko died, Kass was a natural to fill his shoes. After a fine start as a columnist, Kass began a slow fade — his criticism of Daley became repetitive and lost it’s uniqueness as other reporters piled on. He quit working stories and stopped breaking big political scoops. As Daley faded and retired, Kass wrote more about national politics, (often simply regurgitating Fox News talking points.) Now when he writes about City Hall or Springfield his columns are predictable, lack the insider knowledge he once had, and sometimes contain dated references to his Daley Era glory days.
But his political opinions track with those of his editors, many of whom he grew up with in Chicago journalism, so he likely has a job for life, despite losing the punch he once had.
Comment by Roman Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:26 pm
==I find that most of the attempted argumentation here are petty, childish, personal attacks.==
And yet, here you are, posting away.
Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:40 pm
==That’s fun. I find that most of the attempted argumentation here are petty, childish, personal attacks.
Only periodically, does the discussion rise to the level of just talking about the premises and conclusions, without the personal insults.==
To be fair, you’ve done more than your share of contributing to this problem over the last year with less-than-stellar IPI talking points you frequently show up with. Since your recent conversion from Rauner cheerleader to Rauner detractor, it’s become quite a bit worse.
If you’re so very concerned with the level of discourse here at Capfax, feel free to raise it back up to previous levels by “outmigrating” yourself to some other website.
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 3:42 pm
Kass exemplifies the decline of the Tribune. They have not been a credible, relevant journalist source in a long time.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 4:15 pm
And yet, cdog you stay in IL. And you can’t wait for the 2017 numbers? Are you on the outmigration list, then? No, you say, still live here in the awful state. Please explain.
Comment by Mad Brown Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 4:29 pm
I agree with Word. Kass is incredibly lazy. One of the same three column formulas each and every day, rinse then repeat. This life/world/country/state/etc is nowhere near as simple and binary as his paycheck cashing, non-critical thinking self wants to believe it is.
Comment by I ride motorcycles Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 4:31 pm
cdog:
Who insulted you? I didn’t. So get off your victim train.
I made a point (which most honest observers would say is a valid point) that his Tweets were petty and childish.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 4:36 pm
===Meanwhile, Chris Kennedy endorsed a bagel===
LOL
Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 4:55 pm
Unfortunately my response isn’t posting.
Comment by cdog Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 5:11 pm
==Unfortunately my response isn’t posting==
Thank god.
Comment by Sparemeplease Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 5:18 pm
Kass isn’t Royko but that’s been said a thousand times on this blog. Kass is a good quick read - not as bad as CF commenters portray him.
Comment by justacitizen Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 7:06 pm
Roman at 3:26–good analysis. I think Kass can be an excellent columnist. He’s at his best when he tells Chicago stories which have his insight of the flavors of the City and whose subject matter has universal appeal. But he obviously enjoys writing about politics more and the editors appear to be fine with that, but those stories appeal to a much smaller audience, and, in my opinion are shrill and repetitive.
Comment by James Tuesday, Dec 12, 17 @ 8:22 pm
And the guy with the 42 twitter followers wins.
Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 6:40 am
This CNN story is an example of one area where I think IL does a good job.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/13/health/kentucky-appalachia-women-eprise/index.html
There are a lot of reasons I like IL. Good healthcare is one. I like the point the article makes about the high cost of a lack of good healthcare and health education.
Comment by Dog Lover Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 7:18 am
I thought journalists are supposed to be impartial
Comment by Red tower Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 8:44 am
The name Kass should never be, next to, in the same sentence, same paragraph, or same story as the name Royko.
Comment by DeseDemDose Wednesday, Dec 13, 17 @ 10:23 am