The editors of Bloomberg are characterizing the Chicago run-off election as a “battle for the soul of the Democratic Party”:
But perhaps the biggest difference between the two candidates — and the greatest current divide in the Democratic Party — is on economic matters. Emanuel has focused on bread-and-butter issues familiar to any successful mayor: cutting red tape and costs for small businesses, promoting tourism, attracting well-paying jobs. Garcia has cast his campaign in populist terms. His supporters call Emanuel, who used to work in investment banking, “Mayor 1%” and have embarked on a nationwide effort to defeat him.
Over the next six weeks, Chicago’s voters can show the nation — and the national party — that fiscally responsible government remains a priority for Democrats. That’s why this mayoral campaign has consequences not just for Chicago, but for the presidential race and debate over the next year and a half.
but I think they’re exaggerating the actual differences between the two candidates. In the final analysis they support the same things. At the end of the day Emanuel caved to the Chicago Teachers Union after alienating the people of Chicago, the CTU, and its president, Karen Lewis, in particular. To no good purpose. Mayor Emanuel didn’t even mention the billion dollar pension fund payment the city’s supposed to pay this year in his annual message. The deals that the mayor has cut with big businesses to come to Chicago have reduced tax money available to the city for years to come and hasn’t resulted in employment growth. Chicago’s job growth rate is .85%. That’s not enough to put people back to work. That’s not enough to bring people and money to Chicago and, importantly, the deals will inevitably have a cost to small businesses and individuals.
On Tuesday the majority of Chicago voters cast their ballots for “Anybody But Emanuel”. That wasn’t a battle for anything. It was a plebiscite over whether the incumbent is an obnoxious twit or not. The people have spoken.
It was a plebiscite over whether the incumbent is an obnoxious twit or not.
Pretty sure there’s a typo in there.
The new head of the Teacher’s Union is an avid supporter of Garcia. It really doesn’t matter who wins, as there’s little difference between the candidates. It’s a matter of chosing between different men, both representing the same-old, same-old style of politics.
There’s an old question about politicians in Chicago: who sent you? For example, Emil Jones sent Barack Obama.
Karen Lewis sent Chuy Garcia. Of course her successor supports him. He’s the CTU’s guy.
I remember that Emil Jones mentored and promoted the then unknown and novice Barack Obama.
Politics is such an insider’s club. No wonder we keep getting reruns of the same political behavior in our candidates from both sides of the aisle!