As I think I’ve made clear I don’t think much of Rahm Emanuel’s candidacy to be Chicago’s next mayor. However, I’m open-minded. Could somebody make the case for Emanuel?
Specifically, if his resume crossed your desk without his name on it, would you think “Wow! He’d make a good mayor for Chicago. Obviously, he’s been preparing for this all along.” I don’t see it.
Indeed, that may be one of the things I’m not comfortable with in his candidacy. Is he just looking for another item on his resume?
The same resume issue could be said for Obama, but more emphatically.
The case for Emanuel is simple. Illinois, and Chicago, need a bailout. The fix is in. His Fed connections will bring in the juice.
I agree with Drew.
I really thought Tom Dart was going to be your next mayor. From afar it feels like a bunch of people’s names were being thrown around and all of sudden there’s like three that I’ve heard of, so you’re going to have to choose the least offensive that might make a runoff.
Anyway, he’s no Carol Mosley Braun.
Now there’s a ringing endorsement. The same can be said of nearly 1.5 million Chicagoans. I mean people who’ve actually lived in Chicago in living memory.
I thought of Drew’s suggestion but 1) I see few signs that the Obama Administration is willing to extend itself much for Illinois or Chicago (other than hiring a few of the usual suspects); 2) I don’t think that Emanuel can deliver; 3) I think it’s beyond the President’s power.
He only has nine fingers — he’ll lack the pocket-picking ability of a ten-fingered candidate.
Chicago owes it to Rahm. He’s a master of the universe. He is entitled to the position.
Related: austerity laundry list at ZeroHedge
1) I see few signs that the Obama Administration is willing to extend itself much for Illinois or Chicago (other than hiring a few of the usual suspects)
That’s because the crisis is only arriving. Just wait.
2) I don’t think that Emanuel can deliver.
Then he’s a (political) dead man walking.
3) I think it’s beyond the President’s power. Maybe not with the new Congress. But then what of CA, MI, etc??
And let’s be real. Where didi much of the last stimulus go? Local govts.
“And let’s be real. Where didi much of the last stimulus go? Local govts.”
Right! And you are certainly enough of an economist to recognize the contradiction in a “stimulus” that only (as I understand it) partially replaces local revenues.
It was a hand-brake on the descent, possibly.
(The critical question being whether a “stimulus” had to be larger than other government contractions to be a stimulus at all. That would have made it even more frighteningly large.)
I think he’d be a lousy mayor of Chicago, my hometown. But he would be perfect for the Supreme Court, Congress or the Presidency, where ignorance of science, math, engineering and economics seems to be a prerequisite.
(Breyer and about 8 congressmen, like Ron Paul, are exceptions.)