Chicago Patronage Politics

They're at it again!!! This time the mayors #1 aide and his lieutenants got busted for being on the take.... Imagine that.... Corruption in Chicago!! The surprise is that it became public and a few folks had to fall on the sword!!

Mayor Richard Daley's former patronage chief was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for his role in a hiring fraud scheme at City Hall. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Robert Sorich showed no emotion as U.S. District Judge David H. Coar delivered a tongue-lashing. "I don't give a hoot whether this has been going on for 200 years," the judge said. "It still stinks.'' Sorich could have received as much as 57 months in prison, but Coar gave him the lowest end of the sentencing range. Prosecutors say Daley aides rigged hiring for thousands of city jobs and promotions in favor of political loyalists. The scheme allegedly was designed to enhance Daley's political power.

Well, the patronage thing in Chicago has not been going on for 200 years...Hell, the city burned to the ground in 1871! It works in more modern Chicago because of the "loyalty" of the workers. They keep voting for the machine that provides them a job.

Is there a lesson in this for a raise in the minimum wage?? Will those who get the raise vote in the next election for those who got them a raise?? Ummmmm..... I wonder!!

Not the Cubs!!!

No, no....Not the Cubs!!!

Years ago, the Cubs were owned by Wrigley Gum which was owned by P.K. Wrigley. "PK" used the Cubs as a business...Like a farm to grow players and then sell them to other teams for a profit...Like Bruce Sutter. Bruce was about the last of the big cash deals before the Tribune (which by the way is directly across Michigan Avenue from the Wrigley Building) bought the Cubs. The trib owns WGN radio and TV, and that has been the broadcast link for the Cubs forever. A very tidy and controllable package!! The Tribune Company (http://www.tribune.com) is VERY LARGE...And it is publicly for sale! Take a peak at what they own...It is amazing!! That doesn't matter as long as the sign at Wrigley and the team that plays there doesn't change!!!

Vote! Or... Why I lean to Conservative...

Ahhhh...Chicago at election time. Just like April in Paris. Serene, peacefully, the blossuming ballots. "Vote early and often", the mantra of the city is felt crisply in the first Tuesday of November air. From the era of Mayor Kennelly, Mayor Daley (the elder) to Mayor Daley (the younger), everyone is "encouraged" to vote. City employees for example...Are "encouraged" to vote...vote Democratic or surrender your job. Yes indeed, it's important to vote in Chicago. Vote Democratic that is...It's a one party city! The city that doesn't change. It's (perhaps) long forgotten (by some) that during the Mayorship of Daley the elder, Daley the younger was an insurance agent. Not just any agent, but the one and only agent who was the Cities "Insurance Man". Yes indeed, little Dicky Daley sold the city all of it's insurance. Some insurance man that little Dicky Daley!! Things changed when a TV newsman made that public and the State Insurance Commissioner got involved. Dicky Daley had to find another job. The TV newsman stayed alive by staying on TV, and publishing a book entitled "CLOUT: Mayor Daley and His City." Little Dicky Daley today??? Why he's the Mayor of Chicago of Course!!!

Then there's Jesse Jackson. What a guy that Jesse! Out of his own corporate "Rainbow Coalition" pocket Jesse buses (only) persons of color to the polling places. And, it doesn't stop there...No indeed. Lunch and refreshments are provided...And it doesn't stop there either. The bus ride is a rolling seminar on who to vote for...And it didn't use to stop there. I'm not certain they still play fun games on the bus...But they used to....And believe it or not, everyone won a cash prize. That's how it is when you're "Shakedown Jesse"...you can do anything. You can put a son in the US Congress simply by waving one hand...or, another son can own the Budweiser franchise for Chicago and all of Cook County simply by waving your other hand. Be sure of one thing, if you ride the Jesse bus, you know who to vote for.... Or you'd better know who to vote for......

Chicago at election time.... what a wonderful place to be. They'll continue voting and "finding lost ballots" by the boxload until the election if finally over. Sometimes that'll take a week or two.

I voted by absentee ballot. My mobility, or lack thereof, would have made it very difficult to do otherwise. I didn't vote a straight party ticket. I never do. I voted for candidates who were Prolife, not in favor of taxing Social Security and not in favor of screwing up the Social Security System, and candidates who support our troops regardless of where they are. Most were Republicans...some were Democrats...some were Libertarians...

It's a great country!