Chicago Values?
Back when the Chick Fil-A controversy erupted and we learned that certain Democratic mayors and city councilmen were party to a conspiracy to use the powers of local government to shut down public debate and deprive the owner of that company of his right to freedom of speech, I was -- when it came to penning posts -- indisposed. Pneumonia can really take it out of you.
I was not, however, asleep, and I read much of the ensuing commentary. The thing that stuck in my mind throughout the ensuing debate was Rahm Emanuel's appeal to what he called "Chicago Values." Now I do not know about you, but, when I think of Chicago, highmindedness, decency, and public morality are not what comes to mind.
I associate Chicago with thuggery. It is, after all, the murder capital of the United States. It is renowned for political corruption. It is the city where the graveyards are most likely to turn out in force on election day. It is the city where, to do business, you have to donate to the machine. It is the city where sealed divorce records become public knowledge if you dare to take on the Democratic Party. It is the place where the mob has a working relationship with the mayor. It is the home of Tony Rezko, Jesse Jackson Jr., Rod Blagojevich, and Saul Alinsky -- and, like Illinois more generally, it has been so thoroughly looted by the political crooks that it teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. It is the very model for the system of crony capitalism, fixed elections, and political intimidation that Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have been trying to introduce into the country at large.
So, when Mitt Romney decries the tactics of the Obama campaign and says, "Mr. President, take your campaign of division and anger and hate back to Chicago," as he said yesterday, I am inclined to hope that he keeps hammering away at that theme. My bet is that it resonates throughout the country -- especially in the suburbs of Chicago.
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Jun '12
Re: Chicago Values?
Your body may not be 100%, Professor, but you just showed that your brain is still firing on all cylinders.
Jun '10
Re: Chicago Values?
In my experience hate is the animating principle behind leftists: hatred of men, hatred of whites, hatred for religion, hatred of capitalism, hatred for our military, hatred for all the traditions that make America great. I once received a phone call from the Sierra Club. I informed the caller that I'm a conservative. Can you guess her response? The vitriol that followed is unprintable here. Hate? You betcha. Projection? Ditto.
Re: Chicago Values?
And to think Obama just said "Chicago Is an Example of What Makes This Country Great." Ugh. When it comes to food and culture? Absolutely. When it comes to government and attendant corruption? Not so much.
Jun '12
Re: Chicago Values?
I don't even agree with the food and culture part.
Chicago is an example of what's gone wrong with this country.
Re: Chicago Values?
Actually, the restaurants in Chicago are pretty good. The Midwest is not otherwise famous for its cuisine, alas. And the museums, theater, and opera are wonderful.
But the rest? It is no accident that the population is now lower than it was in 1920.
Edited on August 15, 2012 at 5:14pmJun '12
Re: Chicago Values?
Paul A. Rahe: Actually, the restaurants in Chicago are pretty good. The Midwest is not famous for its cuisine, alas. And the museums, theater, and opera are wonderful.
But the rest? It is no accident that the population is now lower than it was in 1920. · 1 minute ago
Ironically, Chicago and New York are two cities I have absolutely no interest in visiting.
Boston? Yes, I wanna see the Green Monster.
Denver? Yes.
LA? I need to visit Disneyland again.
St. Louis? Sure.
But Chicago and New York have nothing that interests me.
Mar '11
Re: Chicago Values?
ConservativeWanderer
I don't even agree with the food and culture part.
Chicago is an example of what's gone wrong with this country. · 17 minutes ago
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra can lick your symphony orchestra, for all values of "your." The pizza is better, the hot dogs are better, and you probably think an Italian Beef is an argument in Milan.
The political culture would need a major cleanup just to qualify as toxic.
Jun '12
Re: Chicago Values?
Percival
ConservativeWanderer
I don't even agree with the food and culture part.
Chicago is an example of what's gone wrong with this country. · 17 minutes ago
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra can lick your symphony orchestra, for all values of "your." The pizza is better, the hot dogs are better, and you probably think an Italian Beef is an argument in Milan.
The political culture would need a major cleanup just to qualify as toxic. · 0 minutes ago
For all their lefty values, the people of Boston have a heck of a symphony.
And I'm a former chef, I've probably forgotten more about Italian Beef than you know. Gimme a Philly cheesesteak or, better yet, a French Dip.
And that's the last I'm gonna say on that topic. I'm not here to play oneupsmanship.
Sep '10
Re: Chicago Values?
Obama's campaign slogan now is:
Hillary 2016. Because I'm toast.
Jun '12
Re: Chicago Values?
Pseudodionysius: Obama's campaign slogan now is:
Hillary 2016. Because I'm toast. · 1 minute ago
I like it! Two thumbs up!
Sep '11
Re: Chicago Values?
Once upon a time, the Bolshoi Ballet could whip your civic ballet company, for any definition of "your."
I'm not sure there's anyone alive today who thinks that excuses the Soviets.
Apr '11
Re: Chicago Values?
ConservativeWanderer
I don't even agree with the food and culture part.
How about the architecture, at least...? :-)
May '12
Re: Chicago Values?
It's a bit of a shame Romney can't work this famous line about 'The Chicago Way' into a commercial. It crystalizes a lot about Chicago politics.
I'm a fan of Milt Rosenberg on WGN radio who does an admirable job in highlighting 'The Chicago Way' with guests like Chicago Trib writer Jon Kass. If one really wants to get a feel for Chicago politics, a reading of Jon Kass is absolutely required. If I'm quoting Rosenberg correctly, about a third of Chicago Alderman have gone to jail and that's before one gets to the number of Illinois governors in the clink.
Jun '12
Re: Chicago Values?
Jim Ixtian: It's a bit of a shame Romney can't work this famous line about 'The Chicago Way' into a commercial. It crystalizes a lot about Chicago politics.
I'm a fan of Milt Rosenberg on WGN radio who does an admirable job in highlighting 'The Chicago Way' with guests like Chicago Trib writer Jon Kass. If one really wants to get a feel for Chicago politics, a reading of Jon Kass is absolutely required. If I'm quoting Rosenberg correctly, about a third of Chicago Alderman have gone to jail and that's before one gets to the number of Illinois governors in the clink. · 2 minutes ago
I don't see why he couldn't. He recently said:
Mar '11
Re: Chicago Values?
There's plenty to love about living and life in Chicago, my home for most of the last 27 years. If any of the Ricocheti want to discuss some reasons to consider a visit, contact me. I didn't want to use this comment to wade into that debate.
I did want to correct our great and good Prof. Rahe:
Uh, no. Based on FBI data for 2010 and 2011 (go to the Uniform Crime Reports website), New York is still number one in terms of body count. But the murder rate -- adjusting for population size, which is certainly a better measure of how likely a murder might be -- Chicago is about no. 19. New Orleans is no. 1 and by a huge margin. More than triple the rate in Chicago. St. Louis, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit are your other leaders in this category.
Anyway, I concur with the other comments about governmental corruption and so on.
an aside? the most corrupt arm of Chicago city government is the Water Department. Hands down.
Weird.
Dec '11
Re: Chicago Values?
For the first time, Romney wasn't terrible.
Re: Chicago Values?
I have been on Milt Rosenberg's show thrice. It is great fun. I would love to meet John Kass. He is a worthy successor to Finley Peter Dunne.
May '10
Re: Chicago Values?
ConservativeWanderer
Ironically, Chicago and New York are two cities I have absolutely no interest in visiting.
Boston? Yes, I wanna see the Green Monster.
Denver? Yes.
LA? I need to visit Disneyland again.
St. Louis? Sure.
But Chicago and New York have nothing that interests me. · 6 hours ago
I have lived near or in the environs of Chicago before. Everyone knows it's corrupt, but the system is pretty embedded. The city is a great place to visit. Go to the Field Museum. See the lions of Tsavo. Go to the Science and Industry Museum. See the U-Boat and the Coal Mine. Go to the Art Museum like Ferris Bueller did (my favorite scene in the movie) Sit in a seat in Wrigley Field and, in spite of the present incarnation of the North Siders, see baseball the way it was meant to be enjoyed.
I am hopeful that the coming utter disaster of The One will be a motivating factor to clean things up. Sure, I'm a dreamer, but that's where wonderful things get their start. Chicago is worth saving...
May '10
Re: Chicago Values?
Jim Ixtian:
If I'm quoting Rosenberg correctly, about a third of Chicago Alderman have gone to jail and that's before one gets to the number of Illinois governors in the clink. · 3 hours ago
Here in Illinois, we have a quaint little saying:
"All our governors get two terms: one in the State House and one in the Big House."
May '10
Re: Chicago Values?
Maybe 15 years ago there was a, um, "community organizer" named Gator Bradley who announced a run for the Chicago City Council. Mr. Bradley had been in prison. A local talk show host (who I believe is now in Federal prison himself) remarked "Gator has it backwards, first you go on the Chicago city council, then you go to prison."