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* My favorite passage from the Commission on Government Forecasting & Accountability’s latest revenue projections…
FY 2023 began the year able to absorb a $4.6 billion falloff in revenues to reach the Enacted Budget. Given FYTD growth of $2.5 billion, revenues could fall around $7.1 billion over the remaining months of FY 2023 and still reach budgetary level. This level of falloff is not likely.
Hilarious.
* New ad…
Last night, Paul Vallas lied on the debate stage about his record opposing abortion.
We have the receipts, Paul. đ§ž
Just like your Republican backers, you said you fundamentally oppose abortion. We canât let Republicans run Chicago.
Watch the new ad: pic.twitter.com/06FiSddocL
— Brandon Johnson (@Brandon4Chicago) March 9, 2023
* New endorsement…
On Thursday morning, ICIRR Action announced its endorsement of Brandon Johnson for mayor of Chicago, as well as a partnership with Mijente to get out the vote on his behalf.
âICIRR Action is making its first ever mayoral election endorsement because thereâs a candidate that values and supports immigrant communities: Brandon Johnson,â said Lawrence Benito. âBrandon Johnson has worked alongside communities for years, and is an ally in our struggle. He presents hope for the future of Chicago, while his opponent has a track record of harming Black and brown communities across the country and has the financial backing of Trump supporters. ICIRR Action is excited to partner with Mijente to mobilize immigrant voters across the city to share that Brandon Johnson is the candidate of working families, of our neighborhoods, and of a Chicago that works for everyone.â
âPaul Vallas is a right-wing conservative, and gladly accepts donations from the same MAGA Republicans who view Latinos as a threat,â said Tania Unzueta, Mijenteâs political director. âChicagoans are learning who the true Paul Vallas is â a man who does not respect people of color, has betrayed our public schools, and associates with political extremists. Paul Vallas will never represent our interests. Brandon Johnson has built a multi-racial, intergenerational, and movement-based coalition that will chart a path out of austerity politics and into a Chicago where everyone, no matter their zip code, race and age can thrive. Itâs time to elect a mayor who works for us.â
* A recent National Journal story asked what the Democratic Party could learn from Dems who “flipped” three congressional seats. One of those Democrats profiled was Nikki Budzinski. Yeah, she ran a very good campaign. Textbook, even. And she has a real feel for this business. But her district was primarily flipped by mapmakers, who redrew the +3 Republican presidential district into a +11 Democratic presidential district…
Budzinski is one of three Democratic freshmen who flipped red districts in the midterms who spoke to National Journal about how their experience can help Democrats in 2024.
Again, heckuva campaigner who should do well in Congress. And she’s worth listening to because she’s good at what she does. But the big lesson for Democrats out of her race is to draw much more partisan maps.
* This story is weird…
It is a mad scramble at the Illinois Capitol as lawmakers try to push through nearly 7,000 bills by Friday.
A bill first goes to the âLegislative Review Board,â where a team of lawyers make sure that the proposal is accurate and legal. With so many bills, however, it has taken them a long time to send them out.
Yes, there’s a mad scramble, but most of those bills are shell bills. And I never heard of the Legislative Review Board. Also, the Senate took last week off, so it has only itself to blame.
* Yesterday in Crain’s…
Dick Simpson, a former Chicago alderman and political science professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Chicago, wonât be giving jurors in the upcoming âComEd fourâ trial a lesson in Chicago machine politics after all.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber today agreed to defendantsâ motion to bar Simpson from testifying. They had argued it would be prejudicial to their clients â former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore and former ComEd lobbyists Michael McClain, John Hooker and Jay Doherty.
Leinenweber has quite the bite…
According to the Government, Professor Simpson will explain to the jury why political workers, such as precinct committeemen and precinct captains respond to incentives to work to get out the vote and that those incentives are the expectation of material benefits. The Court does not find that the subject of this proposed testimony is so enigmatic to require expert testimony. […]
Nor does it convince the Court that Professor Simpsonâs testimony is the product of reliable principles or methods. An extensive publishing record is not enough. Although methods vary across fields of expertise, from no field can an expert âwaltz into the courtroom and render opinionsâ not based upon a recognized method. […]
A map of the City of Chicago, and the statutory description of a committeeman and precinct captain can be made by stipulation or judicial notice.
No to Simpson, yes to a city map.
* I actually agree with part of this take…
The ISRA is just as bad as Dan Caulkins. This is 100% inaccurate. There is no injunction in the Macon County case at…
Posted by Thomas DeVore on Thursday, March 9, 2023
* And here’s your feel-good story of the day, from WGLT…
Electric automaker Rivian has a big order to fill for Amazon â to the tune of 125,000 delivery vans. So when the assembly of one component began to create a chokepoint in the entire production process, the electric vehicle manufacturer with a plant in Normal outsourced the job to a Peoria not-for-profit.
Peoria Production Solutions (formerly known as Peoria Production Shop) was founded in 1941 to provide jobs for people recovering from tuberculosis. Since incorporating in 1951, the mission shifted to providing job opportunities for people with disabilities.
“We have about 309 employees. 60% of those have some form of disability,” said Dan LaTurno, president of Peoria Production Solutions. He said that includes people with vision impairments, mobility challenges, and people with autism.
More than half of the organization’s business is with earthmoving giant Caterpillar. That pipeline of projects is steady, but LaTurno said he also wants to build out other business relationships.
* Isabel’s roundup…
* WBEZ | Few hospitals are willing to bear the cost of providing psychiatric care for kids: The chair in the colorful hallway is weighed down with sand, so heavy it barely budges â and canât be used as a weapon. Even walls in a patientâs room need to be softer, to cushion the blow of a banging head. In fact, each patient room can cost around $1 million, a steep price tag many hospitals canât afford, or donât want to spend. … About a quarter of children in Lurieâs unit are waiting for a bed at a residential facility (thereâs a shortage of these beds, too). Some have been waiting for more than three months â and thatâs another bed not available for a child referred through SASS.
* Sun-Times | Secret recordings of Madigan, allies wonât be released beyond courtroom, judge rules: U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber said releasing the recordings to the public would âsensationalize the trial more than we want.â
* Block Club | OâHare Airport âFlushed Outâ People Experiencing Homelessness As Security Presence Increases: An officer asked Denise if she had a flight ticket â she didnât â and escorted her to the airportâs Blue Line stop, she said. âThey told me I had to leave and that they wonât let me back in,â Denise said. âI asked them where I could go. They said, âItâs not our problem.’â
* Press Release | Reps. Mary Miller, Babin, and Harshbarger Launch the Congressional Family Caucus: For years, we have witnessed a concerted effort by activists on the Left to abolish the natural family. The natural family, a man and a woman committed for life to each other and to their children, was ordained by God as the foundation of our society. The natural family is essential for a nation to prosper because the family is the root of self-government, service, community, and personal responsibility.
* Center Square | Illinois fire officials speak out against bill to allow ground sparklers: Tom Stryczynski, vice president of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, said the ground sparklers in question contain 500 grams of pyrotechnic materials. âThat is the highest level of potency right before you need a professional pyrotechnicâs license to handle them and use them,â Stryczynski said. âThat is what you see in the professional shows that are out there.â
* WGN | Northwestern professor is the new Federal Reserve vice chair frontrunner: Northwestern University Professor Janice Eberly has emerged as a frontrunner to become the new vice chair of the Federal Reserve. Thatâs according to a report by Bloomberg News. Eberly previously served as chief economist for the Treasury Department under President Obama. If selected, sheâd replace Lael Brainard. Eberly has been interviewed by the White House Chief of Staff and has met with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Brainard. A final decision hasnât been made and Eberly would still have to meet with President Biden.
* Sun-Times | Patrick Daley Thompson on prison life: âIt was horrible, absolutely horribleâ: The former Chicago City Council member from Bridgeport offered a glimpse Wednesday of his life behind bars as he fought to keep from having his license to practice law suspended for three years.
* WTTW | Chicago Police Officer Who Lied About Ties to Proud Boy Returns to City Payroll: Officer Robert Bakker returned to full duty Wednesday, two weeks after members of the City Councilâs Public Safety Committee demanded that Chicago Police Department officials do more to weed out extremists from the departmentâs ranks.
* Sun-Times | 2 former assistant stateâs attorneys charged in botched prosecution of alleged Burge torture victim: Nick Trutenko and Andrew Horvat are accused of lying about Trutenkoâs relationship with a key witness against Jackie Wilson, allegedly tortured into confessing to the 1982 murders of two Chicago police officers.
* Block Club | Ald. Daniel La Spata Gains Ground With Mail-In Ballots, Could Avoid Runoff With Sam Royko: La Spata had 50.09 percent of the vote Wednesday, which would be enough to dodge a runoff with closest challenger Sam Royko, who held 23.4 percent of the vote. For comparison, La Spata had 49.1 percent of the vote a week ago to Roykoâs 24.1 percent.
* Crainâs | If it seems like everyone has jury duty right now, it’s because they do: Illinois Circuit Court data showed that Cook County had 32,511 more “pending” criminal cases at the end of 2021 than it did in 2019. “By 2022, we had three times as many cases primed for trial as we had in 2019,” Donner said.
* Bloomberg | How âexcuseflationâ is keeping prices â and corporate profits â high: And over the last few years, businesses have been able to point to a smorgasbord of âonce-in-a-lifetimeâ emergencies stemming from the pandemic and Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine, which together have effectively roiled everything from semiconductor production to commodities markets and shipping.
* NYT | More Black Women Run for Office, but Prospects Fade the Higher They Go: A Black woman has never been a governor, and only two have been senators. Despite progress at lower levels of government, and one boundary-breaking vice president, familiar barriers are slow to fall.
* AP | Maine motorists appeal to keep naughty vanity license plates: Maine had for several years allowed people to put just about any combination of letters and numbers on their vehicle plates, including words and phrases that other states would ban. But the state decided to change course and this year recalled 274 plates it deemed inappropriate.
* WTTW | Chicago Artist Gives Barrettes New Life in Colorful Mosaic Portraits: âBarrettes speak to childhood joys; I hear them,â Strong said. âEdge control, rollers. Every accessory used holds a memory, and itâs comforting. I donât think I appreciated it as much before. But turning it into art has given me greater appreciation because I didnât realize how important barrettes were to my childhood.â
* Shaw Local | Snow on its way into northern Illinois today, likely to impact evening commute: Most of northern Illinois will be under a winter weather advisory starting Thursday evening into Friday morning and could see up to 7 inches of snow closer to parts of the Wisconsin border, according to regional forecasts.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:46 pm
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Quiet Time
âDick Simpson, a former Chicago alderman and political science professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Chicago, wonât be giving jurors in the upcoming âComEd fourâ trial a lesson in Chicago machine politics after all.
U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber today agreed to defendantsâ motion to bar Simpson from testifying. They had argued it would be prejudicial to their clients â former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore and former ComEd lobbyists Michael McClain, John Hooker and Jay Doherty.â
Sneedless to say, this judge wonât let Simpson spin yarns about âthe Chicago wayâ and âI know a guyâ, no chance Indiana resident John Kass will wear his wrinkly suit and talk of âleg manâ or about the âguys down the streetâ, but our spies saw Doherty having a hush-hush lunch, and all mentioned are ageless and priceless, natch.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:54 pm
I donât see how you can be throw. Out of Ohare for not having a plan ticket.
Comment by DuPage Saint Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:57 pm
Three Letter Acronyms (TLAs) can be tricky. It’s best not to assign meaning to them if you are unsure. Rich, I think you’ll agree that “LRB” means Legislative Reference Bureau and not the âLegislative Review Board”.
The Speaker’s Tech Review is a whole other thing (that is if Speaker Welch kept this team intact from Speaker Voldemort’s days, you know, he who shall not be named).
Comment by Anon 9:42 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:57 pm
===And I never heard of the Legislative Review Board.===
They must have gotten mixed up the Prisoner Review Board. Given how most bills are locked up indefinitely in Rules, it is an understandable mistake.
Comment by thechampaignlife Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 1:59 pm
=Sneedless to say, this judge wonât let Simpson spin yarns about âthe Chicago wayâ and âI know a guyâ, no chance Indiana resident John Kass will wear his wrinkly suit and talk of âleg manâ or about the âguys down the streetâ, but our spies saw Doherty having a hush-hush lunch, and all mentioned are ageless and priceless, natch.=
Good stuff, OW. I think the word Kass uses for “guys down the street” is “chumbolones”.
Comment by Anon 9:42 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:01 pm
Has Personal PAC weighed in on the Mayor’s race? cause it seems like a slam dunk that they would not support Vallas.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:07 pm
I was unaware of the Chicago Mayor having the power to set abortion policies. So this is so much empty virtue signalling.
Comment by Gravitas Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:11 pm
===having the power to set abortion policies===
One word: Zoning.
Another word: Funding.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:13 pm
===Nor does it convince the Court that Professor Simpsonâs testimony is the product of reliable principles or methods.===
Truer words never spoken. Judge Leinenweber did the government a favor.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:16 pm
Just experienced some “excuseflation” at my local Aldi. Eggs down to $2.33 a dozen. Woo hoo. /s
Streator city council recently voted down a change in city ordinance to allow raising chickens in the city. Support for the change was surprisingly light. City engineer reports the cost of a coop alone would be $500. That’s roughly 200 dozen eggs, or a dozen eggs a week for almost four years.
Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:20 pm
Took two classes with Dick Simpson back when the college was called UICC (early 70’s). He would have put the jury to sleep./snark
Comment by Louis G Atsaves Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:20 pm
what Rich Miller wrote. also, the Mayor of Chicago automatically becomes a national thought leader, engages in many discussions, has their law department weigh in on cases. Can’t imagine a national thought leader who cozies up to AWAKE, anti vaccine policies, and is so clear about being anti abortion being welcome by the people of Chicago to represent the City and our region.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:24 pm
===uses for âguys down the streetâ is âchumbolonesâ.===
Dunno if thatâs totally true in the âMâ Daley context to the âSouth Dearbornâ folks.
Thanks. Appreciate it.
To the Simpson stuff, âSneedlessâ this time,
Itâs very telling to the thoughts of the prosecutors that they felt a need to discuss âwith an expertâ the culture of Chicago politics.
Iâve had this belief all along that the defense likely be along the lines of âcriminalizing the art of lobbyingâ
Thatâs it. The art. But criminalizing this idea you hire the most connected and those with the most access to lobby⌠for you. Now thatâs âcriminalâ
âOh noâ says the prosecutor⌠âhereâs our witness to testify about how it all works, âThe Chicago Wayâ andâŚâ
And⌠âNoâ
Nope. And no.
What Simpsonâs testimony was going to do, and the judge says so, is âprejudicial to their clientsâ, the defense, like your in-law uncle complaining about the neighbor getting a garbage can before him or the street over getting an alley paved first⌠or a company with better lobbyist getting legislation passed⌠both chambers⌠and signedâŚ
You know⌠âinstitutional corruptionâ
Yeah, well, spinning tall tales, even true stories, thatâs prejudicial, and a crutch the prosecutors wanted in order to make whatever lobbying (good, bad, ethical or not) happened, inherently criminal⌠because some former alderman wanted to tell a story or three.
Iâm fascinated more and more by this trial. A real first glimpse at what is really the crux of this trial too⌠the culture of the politics.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:26 pm
Dick probably saved some grief by not ’splainin’ his six figure taxpayer salary and the money paid researchers.
Comment by ANNON'IN Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:26 pm
OW, I apologize for missing the reference to Dirksen being the guys down the street.
I guess that makes me the Chumbolone.
Comment by Anon 9:42 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:32 pm
Dick Simpson has been out of office since 1987. He has no data to support his opinions, no published research documenting the favor economy and patronage. All of his testimony could be simply boil down to, “well, that’s what I heard.”
That doesn’t mean he’d be wrong to say that raises, promotions and jobs are divvied out by political patronage to reward the efforts of political organizations. It’s just that he can’t prove it in this case or any others.
My opinion is as good as his, I just don’t pretend I’m an expert, like Simpson has for the past 40 years.
Not sure why the prosecutors thought this was a good idea. Maybe because they are having a hard time explaining what, exactly, was the quid that went with the pro quo here.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:33 pm
=Dick Simpson has been out of office since 1987.=
More like 1979 but point taken.
Comment by Anon 9:42 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:39 pm
===makes me the Chumbolone===
Not in the slightest, no apologies necessary.
âMâsâ Daleyisms are now, what, 15+ years removed, at least, considering when he uttered them.
Itâs an old Easter egg
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:40 pm
So Paul Valles is actually believes the guvâmint should tell you how to manage your life. Sounds like Socialism!
Comment by Jerry Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:40 pm
Isnât âdisâ as in dis city a Daley-ism?
Comment by Jerry Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:42 pm
I like Professor Simpson. The feds might have a complex case. But, most Cook County juries can understand corruption. As a distant observer, I think just sticking to who’s directly involved in the case is the best use of time and attention spans.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:43 pm
===More like 1979 but point taken.===
My mistake. I sometimes confuse Simpson with Marty Oberman.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:43 pm
=Itâs an old Easter egg=
A delicious one at that.
Comment by Anon 9:42 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:44 pm
= I sometimes confuse Simpson with Marty Oberman.=
Easy to do.
Comment by Anon 9:42 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:45 pm
-Not sure why the prosecutors thought this was a good idea-
His book with Thomas Gradel from University of Illinois Press is what the feds probably wanted to establish in the juries’ mind.
https://www.amazon.com/Corrupt-Illinois-Patronage-Cronyism-Criminality/dp/0252078551
Comment by Steve Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:49 pm
is the ad appearing on tv and any idea yet how much money is going into airing it?
Comment by bored now Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:50 pm
===probably wanted to establish in the juriesâ mind.===
The judge deemed to possibly be prejudicial.
So is this case about transactions or lobbying that⌠sure, a strong argument can be made, either way⌠were unethical, âbut hey, Simpson will tell us why it was illegalâ
Welp, those stories, theyâre stories.
Proof to the law is what these defendants are wanting to face, not prejudicial testimony about âwell, in 1993, there wasâŚâ
No. Try these defendants on the law.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:53 pm
Will always think fondly and respectfully of Dick Simpson.
His book âWinning Electionsâ should be required reading for anyone signing up for a leadership position in a campaign.
While admittedly being a very long time fan, I completely agree with Judge Leinenweberâs ruling.
Of course, I would throughly enjoy the old war stories (some of which are likely true), I just donât think they would be helpful in reaching a verdict during this trial.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 2:55 pm
-The judge deemed to possibly be prejudicial.-
I can’t disagree with you here because the law (as interpreted today ) isn’t what it was in 1998 or 1988 or even 2005.
Comment by Steve Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:00 pm
Good spot for JohnsonâŚ. But how big is the buy?
Comment by Chili Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:11 pm
@Steve
Steve is probably spot on with his comments on the Tom Gradel and Dick Simpson book on corruption.
Tom was a very creative and talented fellow in politics that was also ready to hit the streets to knock on doors, do advance work or challenge conventional thinking.
The book he and Dick Simpson wrote on corruption was very detailed, well researched and moved along. It just has no place in a federal trail.
Comment by Back to the Future Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:12 pm
Nobody wants to hear Dick Simpson testify before the jury more than Dick Simpson. And maybe that’s why it won’t be happening.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:34 pm
To the ad, it is weird to replay Paul Vallas’s quote over and over again.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:41 pm
On the Johnson ad, I agree it’s a good spot. But you somehow have to connect Vallas’ comments to what that could mean if he were to become mayor. I don’t know if voters can intuitively connect the dots on that issue. You can do that over the course of a campaign spanning months. Not so sure you can do it in a matter of weeks.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:41 pm
Not having Professor Simpson to answer softball questions might alter the fedsâ case strategy a bit. I imagine theyâll need someone on the stand who can at least layout Madigan and McClainâs relationship. Might have to be a House member or former member, or a former high ranking staffer.
Iâm anxious to see the witness list.
Comment by Telly Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:46 pm
===I donât know if voters can intuitively connect the dots on that issue.===
I’m leaning toward Vallas and I have to admit, even though this ad is terribly produced, it’s going to leave a mark. You may be right about the voters connecting the dots, but his words about opposing abortion are going to alarm a lot of voters who are hearing it for the first time.
They might want to re-edit this thing tho, because it is really hard to watch.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:47 pm
Leinenweber is spot on with his comments about Simpson (who was always an outsider when he was in politics).
Donât forget, Harry Leinenweber was a politician in a former lifeâŚstate legislator, for sure. And might have served with MJM and McClain.
Comment by Retired Lobster Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:50 pm
===And might have served with MJM and McClain.===
You can use the Google Key to checkâŚ
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:52 pm
===might have served with MJM and McClain. ===
He did. Way back in the day. But on the other side of the aisle.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 3:58 pm
Dear Chicago Voters: the DNC holds the next convention in Chicago, or you see your Mayor on TV from another location cause he’s the Mayor of Chicago. If if is Paul Vallas, you will hear from someone who is fundamentally opposed to abortion, and the national pundits will mention that even if Paul does not. Do you want that to represent your city, our state? not what Democrats need.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:01 pm
==One word: Zoning. Another word: Funding.==
Since when do municipalities fund abortion? Medicaid is a state program. And zoning? Any multi-physician clinic can perform it.
When NY Governor Mario Cuomo said that he’s “personally opposed” to abortion, no Democrat gainsaid him. He’s Catholic. They got it.
Comment by Bad Goya Vitch Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:19 pm
I think there is an argument to be made that a guy like Paul Vallas, whom I’m not particularly enamored with, is exactly the type of Democrat Chicago needs to represent itself nationally.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:48 pm
= Three Letter Acronyms (TLAs) can be tricky. Itâs best not to assign meaning to them if you are unsure. Rich, I think youâll agree that âLRBâ means Legislative Reference Bureau and not the âLegislative Review Boardâ. =
âLRBâ could even mean Little River Band in a completely different context. If an acronym isn’t widely used (such as IRS), it’s best to look up what it actually stands for before hitting “print” or “send” - or worse, filing legislation - that gets it wrong.
Comment by cover Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:50 pm
==When NY Governor Mario Cuomo said that heâs âpersonally opposedâ to abortion, no Democrat gainsaid him. Heâs Catholic. They got it.==
It’s the same thing Biden, Pelosi, John Kerry and many other moderate Dems have said. I think this is a play towards “voters don’t do nuance,” but I think this issue is one where a not-insignificant number actually do. The campaign (and its more ardent supporters) seems to feel like it’s a weak point, though, so I get why they are hitting it.
Comment by Anon324 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:52 pm
âPaul Vallas, whom Iâm not particularly enamored with, is exactly the type of Democrat Chicago needs to represent itself nationally.â
A white boomer who spends and spends but doesnât tax? Blagojevich, Ryan, Daley have all done that as governor or mayor. Iâm not particularly fond of Brandon Johnson, but at least there would be an attempt to match spending and revenue.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 4:58 pm
It’s entirely plausible for a candidate to be fundamentally opposed to abortion but also pro choice. Many Dems (and Republicans) have made that claim over the years. I can think of a lot of things that I’m personally opposed to but have no issues or concerns if others are engaged in. Ultimately if Vallas is elected Mayor he’ll be judged on how he leads the city.
Comment by Pundent Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 5:07 pm
==When NY Governor Mario Cuomo said that heâs âpersonally opposedâ to abortion, no Democrat gainsaid him. Heâs Catholic. They got it.==
And in what century and political context did that occur?
Comment by Roadrager Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 5:10 pm
=Many Dems (and Republicans) have made that claim over the years.=
Michael Madigan, Richard M. Daley, Jim Thompson, Joe Biden might fit that description.
Comment by Anon 9:42 Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 5:20 pm
**Many Dems (and Republicans) have made that claim over the years.**
Hmmm… and what is different now? Anything happen in the last 12 months?
Comment by JoeMaddon Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 6:17 pm
Tribune piece up now looks at Vallas’ Facebook action. it’s not
wonderful. listen to what I say not what I have done, I mean I did not do that……..how can people buy that?
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Mar 9, 23 @ 9:58 pm
===but I think this issue is one where a not-insignificant number actually do===
Yeah? Ask former Rep. Mike Zalewski about that hypothesis of yours.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 10, 23 @ 6:41 am