Good News from Chicago!
Now that is a headline for you! Enjoy it, bask in it while you can. I doubt that you will see the like again in the near future.
What I have in mind is this report from, of all things, The New York Times – which tries to make sense of a surprising fact. Although former United States Senator Carol Moseley Braun was the consensus Africa-American candidate in the recent Chicago mayoralty election, she won not a single black ward. In fact, Rahm Emanuel took every one.
Of course, this is Chicago, and Emanuel had the backing of the Daley clan. It is conceivable that the turnout from the graveyards was simply overwhelming. But it looks as if, in Chicago, black Americans not yet dead are capable of voting against one of their own when someone of another race who seems a better bet is running for office. In 2008, we saw a large number of white Americans vote for a black man on the same presumption.
In Chicago, Braun took the black vote for granted; Emanuel actively sought it – and she got the surprise of her life.
The old order is rapidly aging.
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Nov '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Perhaps a real benefit of Obama's election is that it's shown large segments of the population the folly of voting for people on the basis of symbolism or statement making. Executive experience and some record of accomplishment are not bad things to look for when voting (particularly for a president). I guess every cloud has a silver lining?
Dec '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
I wouldn't read too much into this.
Keep in mind that Rahm was anointed with the Obama stamp of approval and Chicago is Obama's home town.
Also, Braun is nutty. During a debate she publicly accused another female black candidate of being "strung out on crack" when Braun was a Senator. The other candidate has been clean for 25 years, earned a PhD, runs a church in Chicago, and is some kind of community organizer. Braun turned off some black voters with that remark.
Re: Good News from Chicago!
I know very little about Chicago politics, Paul, so may I ask for your judgment?
On the spectrum of present-day Democrats, let's give a 10 to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appears serious about cutting spending, holding the line on taxes, and--mirabile dictu--standing up to the unions, and let's give a 1 to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, whose first step was to enact a massive tax increase.
What number would you assign to Mayor Rahm Emmanuel?
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 11:52amNov '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
The local scuttlebutt here in Chicago is that none of the poohbahs who anointed her the "consensus African-American candidate" actually thought that Moseley Braun was the strongest candidate. They just assumed that it was a done deal for Rahm, and none of them wanted to be the sacrificial lamb, so they threw her under the bus.
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Peter Robinson: I know very little about Chicago politics, Paul, so may I ask for your judgment?
On the spectrum of present-day Democrats, let's give a 10 to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who appears serious about cutting spending, holding the line on taxes, and--mirabile dictu--standing up to the unions, and let's give a 1 to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, whose first step was to enact a massive tax increase.
What number would you assign to Mayor Rahm Emmanuel? · Mar 5 at 11:50am
Edited on Mar 05 at 11:52 am
Peter, I really do not know. My guess is that he will be a lot more like Cuomo than like Quinn. He is not simply a hack; he has experience in high finance; and Richie Daley has left Chicago virtually bankrupt. Whether he has the moxie to force through the necessary reforms -- which means, to take on the unions -- we shall see. He is thought to be ruthless, and that is most definitely what is required. Keep in mind Chicago's dropping population. It has fallen below the level of 1920. Its future is either reform or the path taken by Detroit.
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Very interesting. Thank you.
Jul '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
"He is not simply a hack; he has experience in high finance; and Richie Daley has left Chicago virtually bankrupt."
I wouldn't make much of his two-and-a-half years with Wasserstein-Perella. It was a typical crony-capitalism sinecure doled out by the firm to a Bill Clinton favorite. The $16.5 million he earned while there was Rolodex money - if they'd expected any heavy lifting, they wouldn't have hired a guy with a degree in dance from Sarah Lawrence.
And let us not forget that he was on the board of Freddie Mac.
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 1:53pmJul '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Carol Moseley- Braun has demonstrated spectacular ineptness throughout her political career. She only won her Senate seat in 1992 because it was the freak "year of the woman" and because the primary was fractured.
She was an embarrassment of petty corruption and livid racial rhetoric while in office - once accusing George Will of wishing to call her a "nigger" and suggesting that he should ,"...put his hood back on."
This stuff was all great fun for her black base, but it gave white voters who had cast their ballots for the historic first black female Senator.pause when re-election time rolled around.
Add to that the fact that most young black voters don't remember the woman and that many other black voters have fled Illinois in the past decade or two and what you had was a delusional buffoon up against the Obama/Daley/Emmanuel machine.
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Kenneth: Carol Moseley- Braun has demonstrated spectacular ineptness throughout her political career. She only won her Senate seat in 1992 because it was the freak "year of the woman" and because the primary was fractured.
She was an embarrassment of petty corruption and livid racial rhetoric while in office - once accusing George Will of wishing to call her a "nigger" and suggesting that he should ,"...put his hood back on."
This stuff was all great fun for her black base, but it gave white voters who had cast their ballots for the historic first black female Senator.pause when re-election time rolled around.
Add to that the fact that most young black voters don't remember the woman and that many other black voters have fled Illinois in the past decade or two and what you had was a delusional buffoon up against the Obama/Daley/Emmanuel machine. · Mar 5 at 2:10pm
It is interesting that black Chicago, which is substantial, could not come up with someone more formidable.
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Kenneth: "He is not simply a hack; he has experience in high finance; and Richie Daley has left Chicago virtually bankrupt."
I wouldn't make much of his two-and-a-half years with Wasserstein-Perella. It was a typical crony-capitalism sinecure doled out by the firm to a Bill Clinton favorite. The $16.5 million he earned while there was Rolodex money - if they'd expected any heavy lifting, they wouldn't have hired a guy with a degree in dance from Sarah Lawrence.
And let us not forget that he was on the board of Freddie Mac. · Mar 5 at 1:52pm
Edited on Mar 05 at 01:53 pm
All true, alas. But bankruptcy looms, and he has made it clear that he understands. It will be interesting to see whether he has the requisite moxie. My bet is that Richie Daley was thinking, "Apres moi le deluge."
Jul '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Paul A. Rahe
Kenneth: Carol Moseley- Braun has demonstrated spectacular ineptness throughout her political career. She only won her Senate seat in 1992 because it was the freak "year of the woman" and because the primary was fractured.
She was an embarrassment of petty corruption and livid racial rhetoric while in office - once accusing George Will of wishing to call her a "nigger" and suggesting that he should ,"...put his hood back on."
This stuff was all great fun for her black base, but it gave white voters who had cast their ballots for the historic first black female Senator.pause when re-election time rolled around.
Add to that the fact that most young black voters don't remember the woman and that many other black voters have fled Illinois in the past decade or two and what you had was a delusional buffoon up against the Obama/Daley/Emmanuel machine. · Mar 5 at 2:10pm
It is interesting that black Chicago, which is substantial, could not come up with someone more formidable. · Mar 5 at 2:32pm
Well, the Daleys made sure blacks knew how things worked on the family plantation.
Oct '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Alas, Rahm was blacker than Mostly Brown. His lefty pedigree was what makes him acceptably black to the minority community, as was Bill Clinton. Although "black" is a racial designation, left is the synonym. Look at the Black community support for Clarance Thomas, or the few black conservative politicians in Illinois. The welfare state has locked up the minority constituency.
The really good news is that there is a growing, some would say rapidly growing conservative Black and Hispanic community. But I doubt that they voted for Rahm
Oct '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
There is a growing number of black conservatives but they're still only at around 10% of the black population.
It's nice to see an article like this but only happens when it's Democrat-on-Democrat. Unfortunately the black vote is locked up with the Democrats and I think neither side sees any point in wasting time trying to get their vote. I still don't understand why Republicans don't do more to tap into that group because they have everything to gain. If they figure out a good strategy and message they can really do some damage.
Jul '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Electing Rahm is good news? A roulette wheel doesn't even spin so well.
What is it about limited government and more Freedom that doesn't resonate with the black population?
Jul '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
Jimmy Carter: Electing Rahm is good news? A roulette wheel doesn't even spin so well.
What is it about limited government and more Freedom that doesn't resonate with the black population? · Mar 5 at 4:33pm
Handouts.
Dec '10
Re: Good News from Chicago!
bereket kelile:
It's nice to see an article like this but only happens when it's Democrat-on-Democrat.
Right. They are all Democrats.
Most elections in Chicago are orchestrated and choreographed. There is a lot of behind the scenes mutual back scratching and political horse trading in formerly smoke filled backrooms. Since Harold Washington was accidentally elected mayor during the turbulent time after Boss Daley kicked the bucket, the Machine brought the black politicians into the fold. Now they are players and bargain for a piece of the Machine baked pie.
The fix was almost certainly in. Obama and the Machine got the guy they wanted. Any better black candidate already had a piece of the pie and was offered something more to stay out of the race.
Edited on Mar 5, 2011 at 5:38pmBraun was a political outsider and only in it for the money. She knew she never had a chance. She is in bad personal financial shape. She owns a money losing failing small business (organic coffee and tea), has no other steady source of income, and has a huge mortgage. She made a play, hoping to garner enough support to get a seat at the table and a patronage job.