“Something smells. ....I get the feeling Hussein fired Rahm. So Rahm manufactures a bogus reason to leave, like running for mayor......... “
FLASHBACK:
Sources: Emanuel wanted Claypool to be placeholder
Plan to keep House seat warm may have included Cabinet consideration
September 25, 2009
BY NATASHA KORECKI Staff Reporter
It has long been claimed that Rahm Emanuel wanted to find someone to keep his congressional seat warm while he served as President Obama’s chief of staff.
Now, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned that Emanuel wanted then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool to his 5th Congressional District seat.
Claypool would serve one or two terms and then be considered for a place in Obama’s Cabinet, according to sources familiar with Emanuel’s proposal. That would give Emanuel the option of returning to Congress, where he could vie to become House speaker.
(snip)
Claypool’s announcement that he would not seek Emanuel’s seat came Nov. 12, just days after the discussion between Emanuel and Blagojevich.
On the same day as Claypool’s announcement, Jarrett publicly pulled herself out of contention for the Senate seat. She is now a top adviser to the president.
Emanuel had hoped Blagojevich had the authority to appoint a candidate to fill out the remaining weeks of Emanuel’s term before a new Congress was sworn in the following January, sources said. The temporary appointment would give Claypool a leg up before any special election took place.
But, unlike the Senate seat, which is filled by an appointment by the governor, a vacant congressional seat must be filled through a special election.
(snip)
Claypool’s ties to Emanuel, as well as top Obama strategist David Axelrod, go back years. In 2006, Emanuel broke ranks with city Democrats and endorsed Claypool for County Board president instead of Stroger. At the time, Emanuel explained he and Claypool have been friends since the 1980s when they worked on former Sen. Paul Simon’s campaign.
Claypool’s ties to Emanuel, as well as top Obama strategist David Axelrod, go back years. In 2006, Emanuel broke ranks with city Democrats and endorsed Claypool for County Board president instead of Stroger. ... Emanuel explained he and Claypool have been friends since the 1980s when they worked on former Sen. Paul Simon’s campaign.
2006?!? That shows how out of touch Rahm was (and still is) with Chicago.
Long before '06 I recall reading an article (prolly in the Trbune) about the Cook County Board and how its president was selected. And per the demoncRATS 'Machine's Rules' it was written in stone that the job of Cook County Board President was to be, and I quote, "a Black Job" and the City would keep its nose out of 'County Business'. In return, the Cook County Board would keep its nose out of Chicago politics. Out of Daley's hair, and the job of Mayor would be "a White Job" (assuming Daley would be mayor forever).
So Rahm, hitching his horse to the very WHITE Forrest Claypool to be Cook County Board President, was like a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to all the Black Pols in Chicago and Cook County - and they have a very good memory. Add to that the Black communities feelings for people of Rahm's religious persuasion, which isn't exactly 'good'. Blacks still have a grudge against all those 'evil Jewish merchants' who had the local grocery store and 'allegedly' overcharged for everything. Even though those stores no longer exist or are now owned by 'Arabs' they still have 'that thing' against Jews. (Jesse Jackson and Calypso Louie are example of that hate dislike)
So Rahm's run for mayor is a fool's errand. Without the full support of Blacks he's a goner. And to not know this shows how out of touch he is with 'the Chicago way'.(/s)
For those that don't know, Chicago City Hall and the offices of the Cook County Board are in the same building in the 'Chicago Loop'. Its basically divided down the middle. 'City Hall' is on the west side, entered from LaSalle Street, and the Cook County Board on the east side, entered from Clark Street. (pretty sweet, huh.)