Mayor Daley & Stroger re: marijuana decriminalization ordinance

July 22, 2009

Mayor Daley is not interested in talking about the decriminalization of marijuana.

MAYOR DALEY:

We just had a ban on smoking. People say you can’t smoke, they said, ‘Please don’t smoke.’ And now everyone’s saying, ‘Let’s all smoke marijuana.’ I mean, after a while you wonder where America’s going to.

Not sure how the ordinance the Cook County Board proposed, which would give Sheriff’s police the option to write a $200 ticket for possession of less than 10 grams instead of a misdemeanor arrest, means “Let’s all smoke marijuana”.

DALEY brought up the issue of driving under the influence of marijuana, which is a very different thing.

If someone drives down the expressway, if someone’s driving a cab, if someone’s driving a bus, if someone’s flying a plane. After a while, I mean, where do you go?

The ordinance is about simple possession. No police officer is going to give someone impaired from marijuana a ticket and let them drive off.

TODD STROGER is still playing the I don’t know I haven’t read it yet. To override his veto? 14 commissioners.

Though on WGN this morning he said he “didn’t think it’s such a great idea.”

STROGER: I’m not really an advocate of trying to decriminalize the drug that people start before they move on to the higher stuff.

Not sure if that has been born out. Folks smoke marijuana and never progress to “higher stuff” – interesting choice of words. Some smoke marijuana for medical reasons and some smoke marijuana before during and after they use/d other drugs. And some folks smoke marijuana and never smoke it again like Lou Pinella and hopefully Geovanny Soto.

And Chicago’s most famous ex-resident?

barry: “I inhaled, frequently – that was the point.”

(LISA JACK)

Source: Chicago’s Breaking News

barry's sports pandering part 2

January 30, 2009

First the World Series now the Super Bowl. Does he really have any thoughts outside political expedience? Does he care about anything other than furthering himself? He's a soxfan only because Mayor Daley is.

BARRY: I wish the best to the Cardinals – they’ve been long-suffering. It’s a great Cinderella story. But, uh, other than the Bears, the Steelers are probably the team that’s closest to my heart.

Anyone could have made his pick. He lost Pennsylvania big time and he’s gonna need those gun a’totin’, Bible a’quotin’ bitter bowling alley babes with enmity toward those not like them to vote for him in 2012. If he were truly interested in bipartisanship he would have picked John McCain’s home team.

BIDEN: I’m having a Super Bowl party at my house and some of our Republican and Democratic friends - but I want to make clear – I am rooting for the Steelers.

The curious part is who would Biden have picked – the Steelers or the Eagles? Pirates or Phillies? Penguins or Flyers?

IL Dems re: Blagojevich impeachment

January 30, 2009

Illinois Democrats respond to Gov Blagojevich's impeachment

ROLAND BURRIS:

As I've repeatedly stated, the Governor must be held accountable for his actions to the legislature, in a court of law and to the people of the State of Illinois.Today’s conviction speaks loud and clear that there are serious issues preventing him from fulfilling his responsibilities and I support putting new leadership in place.

NBC 5:

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton accused Blagojevich of showing a "self-aggrandizing absentee style of leadership" that was bad for Illinois.

Attorney General Lisa Madigan said she's committed to moving Illinois beyond "this sad chapter" and she pledged to work with Quinn to restore people's trust in government.

Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes [one of barry's 5 picks] said he supported the state Senate's decision to remove Rod Blagojevich from office.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias 9barry's basketball buddy] said Thursday's actions mark a "new beginning" and that the state now has a governor who values "collaboration over combativeness."

Gov. Pat Quinn and hope to put the "sad chapter" of his predecessors' administration behind them.

Shortly after Quinn took the oath of office, Secretary of State Jesse White [refused to certify Burris' appointment] congratulated him.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said he congratulated Quinn on being sworn in, and said he was glad "this sad and tragic chapter in our state's history is behind us and that it's time to look to the future, and time for Quinn and the legislature to begin rebuilding confidence in state government.

Mayor Daley on blago: "Cuckoo"

January 23, 2009

Blago media blitz is in full swing. He was on WLS 890 "Don Wade & Roma" this morning, had a press conference and then went on WVON. (Home of Roland Martin's blather.) Mayor Daley was asked what he thought about Blagojevich and he stuck with what he said before and said it with the proper intonation:

DALEY: I've said "cuckoo" once, and I'll say it again: cuckoo.

Blago doing his tongue thing on WVON with Cliff Kelly.

(AP/PAUL BEATY)

sonny

Count

Boris

He acts like Sonny, looks like the Count and the dems better beware of Boris the ticking time bomb.

WVON's Survey
How would you grade the President's speech?
F 46.3%
A 29.8%
C 18.0%
B 5.8%

SeemsTeleprompter Barry didn't go over too well.

Quote of the day: "I don't think I'm a cuckoo"

December 22, 2008

In September, Blagojevich and Mayor Daley had a curious exchange about the mass transit problem in Chicago. It gives a little insight into their relationship. The CTA has an ongoing problem with its budget and Blago blames it on mismanagement of funds and Daley blames it on the seniors ride free program that started in March.

Chicago Tribune's DAN MIHALOPOULOS (9-15)

Mayor Richard Daley said Monday that Gov. Rod Blagojevich's claim the mayor and the CTA are misleading the public about transit funding problems is "cuckoo." Daley quickly followed up his one-word response by saying he was "not getting into an argument" with Blagojevich. "He's arguing with everybody in America."

Blagojevich responded. MONIQUE GARCIA:

BLAGOJEVICH: Look, I have a great deal of respect for Mayor Daley, I don't think I'm cuckoo, but I will tell you what drives me crazy and what drives me crazy is the CTA blaming years of mismanagement on senior citizens taking the bus for free. I just think again blaming the seniors and blaming a good thing like that for the mismanagement of the CTA to lay a foundation for a fare increase is unfortunate.

And I don't consider myself cuckoo but that kind of stuff drives me crazy.

Now you have a baseline.

Official barry statement re: release of contacts

December 15, 2008

Official barry statement re: release of contacts

Hilarity: "Barack Obama is a major goody-two-shoes."

December 14, 2008

That was meant in all seriousness. MICHEAL HIRSH at Newsweek is convinced barry is clean. Where do these folks get their denial and how soon before it wears off? And what it is going to take? The obamerized pro-barry propaganda newsletter still hasn't given up in sheltering their obamessiah. It's riotous...and pathological. What do these men do at night in the privacy of their dark computer rooms. Gives sticky computer keys a whole new meaning. Delusions on par with Blagojevich. He has learned from barry - he parses his words. Emphasis added.

I may not be right about this, but I suspect that these inquisitive minds have Obama entirely wrong. It was no accident that U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald went out of his way to say Obama was not implicated in any way. One of the more telling excerpts from Blagojevich's wiretapped conversations indicates the governor was "bleeping" upset that the Obama team was "not willing to give him anything but appreciation" in exchange for appointing the president-elect's preferred candidate, Valerie Jarrett. There's a pattern here. From all the available evidence we can gather from his time in Illinois politics, Barack Obama is a major goody-two-shoes. And that may tell us a lot about what kind of president he's going to be.

I don't even know what to say. He has no idea who barry is or how he broke into politics. He has the Jarrett connection so simplified you'd think she and mrs barry arranged teas parties for Mayor Daley. From all the available evidence we can gather from his time in Illinois politics" Available evidence? We can gather? Where is the word investigation? Demand? Uncovered? None of them were the least bit aware of Blagojevich and the every day happenings of Chicago politics and yet they remain in their cocoon of denial declaring barry is in fact is the obamessiah.

Dear Mr Hirsh: No one - I repeat - no one can enter Chicago politics without first becoming dirty. It's just a matter of degree. TANSTAAFL - especially in Chicago. And barry didn't get this far being a "goody-two-shoes". Forget Truman. Read the Chicago Tribune before barry was anointed. Or venture into into the blogosphere where evidence abounds...from barry's own mouth.

Democrats respond to Blagojevich

Funny thing - I haven't seen Senator Clinton's statement and she grew up in Chicago and reportedly proved voter fraud in the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy election. Mayor Daley Sr won the election for Kennedy by delivering Illinois. Jr has been following in kind.

12-9 BARRY in initial (no) comment on arrest:

I am saddened and sobered by the news that came out of the US Attorneys office today. But as this is an ongoing investigation involving the governor, I don't think it will be appropriate for me to comment on the issue at this time.

12-9 Lt Gov PAT QUINN: called on Gov. Blagojevich today to “do the right thing and step aside.”

I hope he does the appropriate thing for Illinois.

12-9 Speaker of the House MICHEAL MADIGAN refused to comment.

12-9 Rep JOHN FRITCHEY:

There is no doubt these allegations create a sense of immediacy for the House to take a look at beginning impeachment proceedings...I believe we need to act sooner rather than later.

12-10 SENATOR DICK DURBIN, (D-IL)

I am writing to ask you to step down as Governor of Illinois. Beyond guilt or innocence, the charges against you raise serious questions about your ability to carry out your duties as chief executive of our state.

I also ask you not to appoint the next United States Senator from Illinois. Because of the nature of the charges against you, no matter whom you were to select, that individual would be under a cloud of suspicion. That would not serve our state, our nation, or the United States Senate.

Legislative efforts to impeach you or remove your ability to appoint the replacement for the United States Senate have been initiated but those options could take some time accomplish. I urge you to choose the path that will be the most beneficial for the people of Illinois and the nation, and resign immediately

12-10 MAYOR DALEY:

He has to figure out what's best for him and his family and the state of Illinois. He will have to do the right thing.

12-11 BARRY press conference:

I’ve asked my team to gather the facts of any contacts with the governor’s office about this vacancy so that we can share them with you over the next few days. [Seen them yet?]

I to see is a quick resolution of this issue. I want to make sure that the next senator from the state of Illinois is carrying a forward tradition of service, that the next senator from Illinois is not tainted by what has taken place so far.

12-11 HOWARD DEAN:

The arrest of and complaint against Gov. Blagojevich raises serious concerns about his ability to effectively represent the people of Illinois. In the interest of the people of Illinois and all Americans, he should resign immediately. If he does not, I hope the Illinois legislature will take action.

12-12 ABNER MIKVA, former congressman, appeals court judge and political mentor of barry:

Obama saw this coming, and he was very cautious about not having dealings with the governor for quite some time. The governor was perhaps the only American public officeholder who didn't speak at the convention, and that wasn't by accident. He's politically poisonous. You don't get through Chicago like Barack Obama did unless you know how to avoid people like that.

12-12 IL Attorney General, LISA MADIGAN. US Senator 1998-2002 and pal of barry's. Her fater Micheal Madigan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has had a major feud with Blagojevich and barry's senator maker and legislation diverter Emil Jones.

We think it is very clear he is incapable of serving. We want to make sure the people of Illinois have a governor who can legitimately fulfill the duties of that office.

12-12 JESSE JACKSON, JR interview with CNN's DON LEMON:

The governor not only cannot perform his functions under the constitution of the state of Illinois - but has clearly violated [he smiles like I'm not alone - he's worse] a number of statutes under out state statutes and potentially federal statutes. And there may be a capacity issue. A capacity as mental capacity - he cannot function under the duress.

12-12 BLAGOJEVICH:

I’ll have a lot to say at the appropriate time.

12-12 Lt Governor PAT QUINN said his selection process for the Senate seat would be transparent. Quinn said it would be "premature" to talk names but said he would "never" appoint himself.

It is an urgent matter. This is an emergency. Illinois is in a crisis.

12-13 MADIGAN: Is seeking for the IL Supreme Court to find him unfit to serve and wants Lt Governor Pat Quinn to take over.

I recognize that this is an extraordinary request, but these are extraordinary circumstances. Gov. Blagojevich can no longer fulfill his official duties with any legitimacy. [Blagojevich is] unable to serve as governor due to disability and should not rightfully continue to hold that office. His ability to provide effective leadership has been eliminated, and the state government is paralyzed.

Rep. Jack Franks (D-IL) said it would set "a dangerous precedent" for the court to remove a governor as proposed by Madigan, who is a likely candidate for governor in 2010. Franks, a fierce Blagojevich critic, said that kind of decision should be left to state lawmakers.

Illinois Supreme Court spokesman JOHN TYBOR would not comment on when the court might act on the motion, saying only that it "will be properly considered."