Posted on 01/02/2009 6:51:56 AM PST by rellimpank
Today, as I methodically break New Year's resolutions the way politicians break their promises of reform, readers get their writes. Because I am supposed to be on vacation this week, it's about time you readers did your fair share of the work around here, allowing me to recline on a couch, watch football and gulp down buckets of aspirin.
OK, Kass, what are you paying Gov. Rod Blagojevich to give you material for your columns? Or is he the gift that keeps on giving? —Sue S.
Dear Sue: As our esteemed governor has famously said, this thing is "bleeping golden." But the Illinois political freak show is not a gift to me. I offer it nobly and without charge, as a gift to America. Because, finally, despite all the willful cheerleading of national media types who prattled cherubically about the new Camelot, Americans are finally realizing that Chicago politics is no fairy tale.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Achilles heal?
Great column. Kass is going to be a national voice before this is through. He’s educating the country on the scourge of Chicago politics and the silly mainstream press that plugs its ears and howls “LALALALALALA!” as the truth trickles out.
I have long wondered how Kass has avoided the “Jimmy Hoffa vacation”.
It's only January 2nd. The year is still young, and it takes time to set these things up so as to avoid blowback... /g
~~John Kass is pricelsss .. PING~!
Great insight about Kass going national.
Remember the late, (in)grate Molly Ivins? All she ever did to become famous was rail on W Bush. You never had to read her column because you always knew what she was going to say (a trait lately attributed to EJ Dionne).
But Kass. He’s got range. And he’s funny. For the first time, we’re seeing him step out there to whack O on the . . . wrist.
Like you, I look for a lot more. But . . .
He won’t picked up by a lot of papers in the syndicates bc of your other observations about plugging ears and howling to drown out the truth.
Go, Kass. (D-Kick @$$)
The Wrong Burris
###
When my sister called to tell me Blago had picked Burris to fill Obama’s vacant senate seat, I thought she was talking about Henry Burris or Ray Burris.
Sorry, lame joke. But seriously, either of these other Burrises would have fit the bill, since apparently the only relevant qualification is that the new senator be black, at least according to Congressman Bobby Rush.
Look, I wholeheartedly endorse the idea of putting a black man or woman in the seat on the grounds that there should be at least one African-American in the U.S. Senate ... though I’m not sure what any of the leading contenders would do for people around here.
At the moment Mayor Daley is proposing to use the Olympics as sort of a bulldozer to shove a good chunk of poor and working-class black residents out of the south side—taking away their parks while he’s at it—and no elected black official is objecting. Not Bobby Rush. Not Jesse Jackson Jr. Not Roland Burris. Not, for that matter, Barack Obama.
I say if Governor Blagojevich is going to appoint a black leader of stature it should be Jay Travis or Jitu Brown of the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization. At least they’re fighting to make sure south-siders get something besides the shaft out of this Olympic deal. Fittingly, Mayor Daley won’t give them the time of day.
Actually, I think Blagojevich should just leave Obama’s old seat empty as a symbol of the vacancy of our political leadership, black as well as white.
http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/politics/2008/12/31/wrong-burris/
~~~
From comments:
~~~
Justice Jones
December 31st - 12:03 p.m.
The lessor of many evils. Daley and Madigan wanted to pick the next US Senator. The Mopes could have avoided this political crisis by having a special Election.
Daley-Madigan thought they will have a clean swept. Getting rid of Blogo and picking a Senator spawn from their sewer. The evils of the Daley Machine will be displayed for the World to see.
Remember where Blogo came from. Prez Barack will have to eventually throw Daley and his Machine under the bus,to survive politically.
Valarie and Rahm are both dirty,and have been exposed. Also, Daley’s Olympic dream will also fall on its face,and become his nightmare.
..
Blacks for White Millionaires
December 31st - 12:11 p.m.
Why hasn’t anyone called Bobby Rush on his support for Blair Hull in the ‘04 race?
If it is so important that an African American have that senate seat, why didn’t Rush support one of the two African American candidates in the ‘04 Democratic primary?
..
Frank Coconate
December 31st - 6:27 p.m.
Why? This is Chi Town,the only color that matters is green!
Bobby Rush was God-Fathered.....
Blair Hull made him a offer he couldn’t he refuse.
Great article.
Thanks for the ping, and bump!
Happy New Year Bump & a Ping!
—thanks and a Happy New Year to you—
This guy is one good writer.
He has appeared on several cable talk shows during the Chicago Comedy Hour.
However Kass’s laconic speaking style, and his thoughtful, laid back personality, does not make for the rat-a-tat delivery, one-shot commentary, demanded on cable.
Too bad-—he’s got great material.
Don't worry about it.
Remember when Blago kept looking back at the curtain during his presser? Daley's boys were locked and loaded behind the curtain aiming AK-47's at Blago's back.
When Blag said with all the sincerity of a nun at prayer------"I have done nothing wrong" ------that was the signal for Daley's boys to relax their trigger fingers.
"Look, Blago, you hairy screwball. You better act sincere at your press
conference....or else. My boys are gonna be locked and loaded aiming
AK47's at your back."
"Ok, Mayor Dickster, now don't get nervous. When I say 'I Have Done
Nothing Wrong,' you can signal your boys to relax their trigger fingers."
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