Posted on 04/21/2009 6:58:57 PM PDT by Nachum
WILL DIRTY CHICAGO POLITICS BE THE UNDOING OF OBAMA? CATEGORY: Decision '08, Obama-Rezko Where is the wisdom of Mike Royko when you need it?
Royko was by far Chicago’s most beloved political columnist. His scathingly brilliant, uproariously funny writings on the Chicago political machine not only shone a light in the dark corners of corruption, favoritism, and mobbed up businesses of Richard J. Daley’s City Hall, he had fun doing it.
A small sample:
Several theories have arisen as to what Mayor Daley really meant a few days ago when he said:
“If they don’t like it, they can kiss my ass.”
On the surface, it appeared that the mayor was merely admonishing those who would dare question the royal favors he has bestowed upon his sons, Prince Curly, Prince Larry, and Prince Moe.
But it can be a mistake to accept the superficial meaning of anything the mayor says.
The mayor can be a subtle man. And as Earl Bush, his press secretary, once put it after the mayor was quoted correctly:
“Don’t print what he said. Print what he meant.”
So many observers believe the true meaning of the mayor’s remarkable kissing invitation may be more than skin deep.
One theory is that he would like to become sort of the Blarney Stone of Chicago.
As the stone’s legend goes, if a person kisses Ireland’s famous Blarney Stone, which actually exists, he will be endowed with the gift of oratory.
And City Hall insiders have long known that the kind of kiss Daley suggested can result in the gift of wealth.
People from all over the world visit Blarney Castle so they can kiss the chunk of old limestone and thus become glib, convincing talkers.
(Excerpt) Read more at rightwingnuthouse.com ...
Famous quotes:
Hating the (New York) Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax”
The subject of criminal rehabilitation was debated recently in City Hall. It's an appropriate place for this kind of discussion because the city has always employed so many ex-cons and future cons.”
Oh you hit a nerve. I started reading Royko when I was in 7th grade and read him til his death. In fact, I remember how terrible I felt when he died. His columns were just hilarious - I remember laughing out loud regularly. I have two books on him.
Meanwhile, one of the columns I’ve been unable to find and it’s the one where the guy tries to cross the train tracks or something and he gets stuck on top of the train with his lunch bag....
Also, did you know that several years ago there was a movie with John Belushi and a brunette actress whose name I’ve forgotten (but she was big in the 80’s) and it was loosely based on Royko - it was pretty funny.
Royko was a gem. Isn’t John Kass supposed to be his “heir”? Is he any good?
Royko was the greatest columnist of all time. The way he wrote, it was as casually as him talking to you at the pub. Brilliant writer, truly the voice of the people.
I believe you are thinking of the movie called “Continental Divide”. Funny funny movie.
Kass is excellent, but it's like comparing Hannity to Rush Limbaugh. Royko was in a class by himself.
Oh yeah, that’s the name of it. Thanks a bunch. I guess I could’ve looked up Belushi on IMDB. It’s nice to see another Royko fan on here.
I think the biggest problem is that in the old days, the writers, the reporters, pretty much everyone, came from solid roots and most of the guys were in the service. Now, the people we see on the news, etc. are all kids and they never served this country a day in their life; in fact, they’ve all been coddled to the extent that they’re a bunch of whiny narcissists and I know because I am in class with them every day.
Oh he was, he was. It’s like comparing Leno to Johnny. There was only one Johnny.
He did a whole column once on blood soup or something with blood - it was hysterical.
You mean like this recent piece..,?
Daley brag, Obama bow are news of the weird
John Kass
April 10, 2009
The Hopium from that new Chia Obama head on my desk can't grow fast enough to blot out two stories straight from Political Bizzaro World.
First, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley bragged to a group of international business leaders that he's taken the lead fighting political corruption in the political corruption capital of the world.
"In Chicago, we try to lead by example," the mayor of many scandals told the awe-struck crowd, according to a fascinating story broken by Tribune City Hall writer Dan Mihalopoulos.
Daley went on to say that he won't tolerate those who skirt the rules, despite 20 years of evidence to the contrary.
Who knew?
Daley must be our new Zorro!
Yes, I know Zorro wasn't in Bizzaro World, it was Bizzaro Superman. But still, this is Bizzaro Chicago, if our mayor is now the avenger of corruption.
Daley may have worn a black Zorro mask and cape and a puffy white shirt underneath to his lecture, but we'll never know for sure because in the name of open government, reporters were barred from Daley's speech to the foreign moguls.
Undaunted, the crafty Mihalopoulos got his hands on the mayor's remarks and interviewed those who attended. Even without their Hopium pipes, foreign business leaders gushed that Daley was absolutely believable.
But the story that really forced me to scrape my Chia Obama head of any new sprouts was this:
President Barack Obama bowing obsequiously, like some trembling goatherd, before King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
A video of the incident showing Obama bending like Gumby before King Abdullah is coursing through the Internet, forcing the White House to deny it all. And the Republicans are turgid with joy, whipped on by conservative commentators.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-10-apr10,0,4524363.column
(Think I am going to post more of his stuff from now on...)
LOL I remember that column. It was titled “Try doing that surgery yourself” or something.
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been trying to remember Mike Royko’s name for weeks now. Something in the news a few weeks ago caused me to think of a response to whatever it was about (Now I cannot remember what that was) that triggered a reflection of Mike Royko’s humor, and style. I wanted to post something about it, but couldn’t remember his name. SHEESH!!!
He was one of my favorites too. May he RIP. A great columnist.
Classic stuff. Royko was a gem.
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