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* Besides the fact that the Speaker couldn’t “easily” have replaced Rep. Derrick Smith since there is no legal way to force him off the ballot, I’m not sure what Kass is really getting at here…
If you want to know how cynical and corrupt Illinois politics has become, you should focus on Springfield today.
Because there in the state Legislature, Chicago machine Democrats and their feeble Republican enablers will put on a thrilling anti-corruption show.
They will beat their breasts and make solemn vows about the public trust, they will talk about honest service, and when they’re finished, they will expel one of their own, state Rep. Derrick “Leave It in the Envelope” Smith, the West Side Democrat. […]
The very next day after the primary, Democrats called on Smith to step down. Madigan could have replaced him easily. But Smith declined. So the hearings were held, and speeches were made, and now the Legislature will dump him. Democrats have already lined up a friendly third-party candidate. But once Smith is booted, he’ll need a paycheck, and maybe they’ll find him one if he agrees to withdraw his name from the ballot in November. […]
Democrats weren’t the only ones making speeches. The Republicans were equally noisy, making grand sweeping gestures with their hands, raising their voices, talking tough but helping Madigan do the heavy lifting.
He says elsewhere in his column that this is relatively low-level stuff, but allegedly soliciting and receiving a cash bribe ain’t so low level. He also talks about the big guys going about their business while the little fish are caught, but isn’t that really just an indictment of the US Attorney and the FBI?
The big question I have is does he really think that the Republicans aren’t supposed to help remove Smith from office today?
Do I have that one right?
* You can follow today’s Smith expulsion session by clicking here.
* Related…
* House could oust Rep. Smith over bribery charges Friday
* State Representative Faces Expulsion Vote Friday
* Lawmaker could be expelled today, but remains on ballot
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 10:57 am
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Pretty much every Kass column that does not involve food can make one wonder what he is getting at.
Comment by tominchicago Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:01 am
Yea, Kass seems off on a number of points. And, in my book, a State Rep. (even a newbie) is a “big fish.”
Comment by Just Observing Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:07 am
Term limits!
Comment by Leroy Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:14 am
Kass doesn’t let reality or facts disturb his Universal Conspiracy Theory.
The guy’s flogging for a permanent right-wing talk radio gig. It’s not like he has a record of column compilation books climbing the best-seller lists.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:15 am
BTW, on the idea that one legislator is particularly important…
In my neck of the woods, I have a U.S. Senator out of commission (Kirk). I have my member of the U.S. House out of commission (Jackson). My state rep resigned (Howard). And my county commissioner is under indictment (Beavers).
The Illinois House can live with Smith being where he’s at until either the voters replace him or the gavel bangs that he’s guilty.
If Smith’s crimes rise to the level of being ousted from the House, what the ____ were the Democrats doing recommending that people vote for him?
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:18 am
There’s no translation for nonsense.
Kass just invents whatever scenario he thinks will entertain readers and make him look smart.
Comment by walkinfool Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:21 am
BTW, I agree that Kass is a hack that works a point of view that doesn’t have many adherents outside a small faction in a small party.
And he’s a bully. Dude wrote a whole column attacking my third grade teacher.
That’s really taking on the big issues, JK! Give that third grade teacher hell from your position as Right Wing hack columnist for Chicago’s Republican paper.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:22 am
Mr. Kass must be off his meds again
Comment by PQ's Primary Opponent Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:22 am
Hey: it’s the Trib and it’s Kass. Thangs there ain’t supposed to make sense. ‘Nuff said.
Comment by sal-says Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 11:56 am
I think the point is that the Democrats could have taken action sooner, but waited for their selected candidate to make it through the primary.
If a different candidate came out of the primary on the democratic ticket, then things could be worse. Which is why the Democrats went through great lengths to position a third party opponent.
-The devil that you know versus the devil you don’t.
The Republicans should be bolstering a strong challenger there and do everything to take that seat. Instead they allow the democrats to handle it in there own way and in their own time.
The Party in control is not policing Smith, the two party system is not policing Smith, it seems that Illinois can’t take care of itself with out Federal Law Enforcement.
That’s what I got out of that blurb.
Comment by Jade Rabbit Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 12:38 pm
What I took from the column is that despite the seemingly obvious criminal conduct by Smith the Democratic party still pushed for him to be nominated. They could have not pushed for him, let the voters make their choice, and then decide to back the winner - either Smith or the white guy trying to pass for black. Alternatively, they could have pressed for a 3rd party candidate early on. The situation with Smith - his candidacy, his bribe taking, the party push for him to be nominated anyway, his refusal to step down - it does stink to high donkey heaven. It does not speak well of the party in power or its leaders. No amount of denial or blaming Kass will change that.
Comment by johhnypizza Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 12:58 pm
“Bribe-taking was not taken lightly in ancient Greece. In Laws Plato said that it merited “disgrace”. In Athens it was grounds for having one’s citizenship revoked. Demosthenes was found guilty of accepting bribes in 324 B.C. and was fined 50 talens—which by some estimated is equal to $20 million in today’s money—and ultimately got off with being exiled. Other officials were executed for taking bribes, University of Texas classic professor Michael Gagarin told the New York Times, “Bribery was taken very seriously and certainly could lead to capital punishment.”
Comment by Now this is punishment Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 1:20 pm
Who knows. Kass is a phony and a goof who preaches to everyone else in between his love fests as a radio co-host with Cicero Dan Proft on WLS.
Someone needs to come up with a silly nickname for him like he assigns to everyone else in his rehashed columns.
Comment by just sayin' Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 1:43 pm
=== Someone needs to come up with a silly nickname for him like he assigns to everyone else in his rehashed columns. ===
Sounds like an excellent Question of the Day/Contest!
Comment by Coach Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 1:59 pm
Kass wants to see a madigan or daley fall. Until that happens you will get this. Smith could have been a county commissioner or congressman, the theme would not change.
Comment by Shore Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 2:03 pm
Kass is selling newspapers.
He has some street cred.
People like him.
Smith will probably win in November.
Just the facts mam.
Comment by gg Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 2:43 pm
(With apologies to VanillaMan and Tootsie Rolls)
The world looks mighty bleak to me.
Conspiracies are all I see.
The sun rises in the East daily.
It’s a Madigan conspiracy.
“The Combine” is the target of my venomous spew,
It really helps us sell a paper or two.
If Hollywood needs a script, tell them I’m free…
I’ve got a new conspiracy!
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 3:16 pm
=== They could have not pushed for him, let the voters make their choice, and then decide to back the winner - either Smith or the white guy trying to pass for black. Alternatively, they could have pressed for a 3rd party candidate early on. ===
Dear Johnny Pizza:
The “white guy trying to pass for black” was also a Republican trying to pass for a Democrat. And not just any Republican, a wing nut that members of his own party avoid.
Also, Smith’s arrest came too close to the primary for Democrats to find and elect a third candidate.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 3:21 pm
Yes, Kass has indirectly indicted the revolving door at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I think most people understand what he’s talking about. A nickle and dimer like Eric Smith didn’t have the years of clout and proper “infrastructure” to move money around in a more genteel way. It’s more difficult but not impossible to go after politicians who can appeal your property tax bill or be made co-counsel on some business deal. After all, we know the concept of the “public interest” is quite elastic in Illinois.
Comment by Steve Bartin Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 3:44 pm
Anyone else think Kass has seriously outlived his good sources and his insights into IL politics? He used to be good - sometimes extremely good - back when he was railing at the latest Daley decision or at George Ryan or whenever Vrdolyak was back in the news. In today’s Quinn-Emanuel-Cross-Preckwinkle era, he seems to be recycling the same column ad infinitum.
Comment by ZC Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 3:44 pm
–Yes, Kass has indirectly indicted the revolving door at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.–
The last guy was there almost 11 years. The wheels of justice grind slowly, and in his case, so does the revolving door.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 3:48 pm
Nail on the head.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 3:49 pm
Wordslinger:
There’s a lot more to that office than the top job. Many of those who built corruption cases are now prominent criminal defense attorneys. But, heh, look at some of the “crime fighters” who missed a lot of crime. Anton Valukas and Dan Webb come to mind. It’s amazing how certain connected people just never seem be indicted while everyone around them goes down.
Comment by Steve Bartin Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 3:53 pm
Kass was at his best when he was one of the few in the Chicago MSM who dared question the “Daley is the Greatest Mayor in the Country!” bluster from City Hall. Once Daley announced his desire not to seek re-election then other columnists and mayoral mouthpieces (see Spielman, Fran) felt it OK to join in.
Kass is still trying to find himself in a post-Daley world but I agree with his premise. While justice needs to be done to the small fries the real problems come from the circular lobbying arrangements in place. While these arrangements may be legal they are unethical.
Comment by Independent Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 5:00 pm
So, according to published reports, if Mr. Smith somehow is able to win reelection in November, and has not been convicted of the crimes for which he is accused, he would return to a House seat and could not be expelled again for the same offense ( some sort of nod to double jeopardy). Should that occur and Mr. Smith is convicted sometime in the future…what then? Can he then be expelled again based on the conviction…? I’m unclear…did Mr. Madigan err in expelling Mr. Smith too soon? I can think of 100 inquiring minds who want to know.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 5:49 pm
Well, Madigan could have pressured Smith’s money/interests and *they* would have pressured him to resign. Or he could have done what the Dems did with the LaRouchies - run a third party candidate. That aside, the MAIN point of Kaas article is that Smith’s corruption is trivial compared to what he describes at the end.
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, Aug 17, 12 @ 7:49 pm