lol

ahem obviously has never heard of “net present value.” It’s $3B as a 75-year gross revenue stream, reduced to a 1-time payment at closing, doofus.

Illinois, Louisiana, take your pick, it’s either 1-2 or 2-1 or tied for #1

From listening to her on those tapes (or reading the transcripts, at least), it sounds like she might be the power behind the throne. A Lady MacBlag, of sorts.

Absolutely. Going after Wright or Ayers, even if justified, was dicey for several reasons. But McCain really should have layed into BO’s Chicago political connections. Exposing the truth here would have undermined all that “hope and change” baloney.

At some level, anyone who was a player…played. You couldn’t be in the game, if you didn’t.

Yes. And it’s not like the clues weren’t there already, out in the open. Cronyism, quid pro quo, the enrichment of the inner circle … while
the “little people” get the shaft.

Government of the players, by the players, for the players.

But the lure of 63 million Americans’ feeling good about themselves was a more compelling narrative than raw sewage spilling across apartment floors.

Like the old saying goes, there are none so blind as those who will not see.

The average Chicagoan has limited access or influence over the dealings at City Hall or in the governor’s mansion. They are no more responsible for 100 years of cronyism, graft, greed and corruption than they are for the 100 years of Cubs futility in winning a World Series. They are spectators, perhaps with a view into a bloody Roman arena, but still merely paying stiffs for the most part.

The vendors are “a little pregnant” for some and “plying the second oldest trade” for others. The myriad of contractors in virtually every conceivable endeavor have been historically asked to ante up, if they want to get in the game. Again, historically…you couldn’t find a seat at the table otherwise. Whether that was via working to get votes or “returning the favor” by giving someone a job or finding a way for something to “fall off a truck”, you knew that someday, somehow, you might be asked….if not upfront.

The umpires were supposed to come from the media. And every once in a while, you would get an independent cuss who would kick up dust and find dirt with some regularity. By and large, though…as the game began to take on a more liberal flavor…their was a bit of cognitive dissonance in “turning on the home team”.

Much as we see in national politics, the snuggling and providing of cover for “the right message” trumps all other issues, with rare exceptions.

And the players…well, certain companies, certain individuals, certain law firms, certain insurance firms, certain contractors, were virtually assured of their share of the pie year after year. Nobody…and I mean NOBODY…who played in that arena for any length of time…could avoid the game.

At some level, anyone who was a player…played. You couldn’t be in the game, if you didn’t.

They just couldn’t face the fact that their selection for POTUS was just another Chicago politician (As noted by Obama’s own pastor Rev Wright). They could’ve spent at least one afternoon with John Kass or other veteran Chicago political reporters to get the background on Obama. But no, they wanted to protect and help Obama succeed, like Chrissy (I want to be Senator from Pennsyvania and Obama will be my ticket) Matthews.

It was far more important to go dumpster diving in Alaska, than going to the back issues of the Tribune for the truth about Obama’s lack of interest regarding ‘Change’ in his own (and below-market priced) backyard.

For the country’s sake, I hope Obama isn’t too tainted by the place where he served his political apprenticeship. Obviously, I don’t think we should just ignore any questionable things in his past. But I’d rather not go through another distracting, divisive OIC investigation/scandal for the next four years. We have enough to worry about with the economy, wars and terrorism. I hope impeachment doesn’t become our new national priority.