The [Stroger] Papers

Bill Beavers is a real piece of work.

"Todd Stroger is a man," Beavers insisted in today's Sun-Times. "He might not have as much bass in his voice as I got, but he's a strong man. For the first time he'll be his own man."

But he won't be allowed to vote. Or to actually become a Cook County commissioner himself. He'll just be "president."

If Todd Stroger were a man, wouldn't he be feeling humiliated just about now?

Dream Candidate
"Our prayers have been answered."

No, that's not Democratic committemen rejoicing at the prospect of a puppet presidency in which they pull the strings, but Republican challenger and sitting county board commissioner Tony Peraica. And I believe him. After all, if you were Tony Peraica, wouldn't Todd Stroger be your dream candidate? Who among the possibilities better symbolizes a corrupt Machine furthering itself at the expense of your tax money?

"We're absolutely thrilled and excited to face him," Peraica said. "His father has an intimate working knowledge of county government. He's a master politician. But I'm not aware of anything - anything - his son has done as an alderman or state legislator. And I don't think he'd have had those jobs or be the nominee if his last name were Jones or Smith."

Possible campaign slogan: I'll Have A Vote.

Brake For Children
Peraica's slogan is actually "Have You Had Enough?"

Maybe he could massage the line used by prosecutor Philip Guentert in the City Hall hiring trial, when he told jurors that they were "the brakes" who could stop the runaway Machine.

"Brake The Machine"?

It would be a clever way to tie City Hall corruption into the campaign.

It's also a viable response to the stance of Democrats like Mark Brown, who think they have no choice but to vote for the candidate chosen by the bosses. Is it too obvious to make another reference to the Soviet Central Committee? We need a new metaphor.

Maybe, in the big picture, breaking the Machine is the only real way to move forward. President Peraica has a nice ring to it. Haven't you had enough?

The Bosses
The ward committeemen.
The township committemen.

Be the brakes.

Pip Squeak
"When I campaign, if I am selected, my record and my plans for the county will show themselves to be worthy of being the president of the County Board," Todd Stroger said.

Did someone say something?

Oh, it's you.

What, now?

Steele Breeze
Cook County Commissioner Bobbie Steele is pissed.

In an interview with Steve Edwards on WBEZ's 848 on Wednesday, she couldn't even bring herself to utter Todd Stroger's name, instead referring to him as "the candidate" and "the potential candidate."

Steele was relatively impressive.

"Cook County government is not a sport," Steele told Edwards.

Steele pointed out that the Cook County board is full of experienced commissioners who ought to be considered as natural successors to John Stroger. It's so obvious as to be shocking. Why bring in a congressman (Danny Davis) or a toy alderman (Todd Stroger) or a chief judge (Tim Evans) when there are still 16 commissioners who could step in to replace their ailing leader?

"I'm just appalled that with all the experience that's on that board and all the leadership that has been provided, that the policy would be to look outside that board for leadership," Steele said.

Steele then played the gender card - not that there's anything wrong with it. (She was backed up by Mary Mitchell in today's Sun-Times.)

"The Democratic party could reinvent itself on this issue and go into the future being a party of inclusion, a party that considers the voice of women, a party that considers the voices of all of the people, all of the comitteemen in Cook County, not a select few," Steele said. "I think they should look at who can bring this party together.'

Edwards asked Steele if she thought she was that person.

"I'm sure I'm that person," she said. "It's proven. It's my record."

Of Todd Stroger, she said, "There is no record. And while I respect Alderman Beavers and I respect the potential candidate, I just think county government at this point in time has such crucial issues that need to be addressed that it needs someone with experience."

What Lisa Wrought
"It doesn't bother me at all," Peoples' Ald. Ed Smith (28th), a Democratic committeeman, told Crain's. "[Todd Stroger] has gone to school. He's taken care of his kids. He's been elected."

To a different office, but why nitpick? Then again, he wasn't really "elected" to the City Council. The mayor appointed him to the post in 2001, and he was only re-elected since through the protection that affords.

Smith added that Todd Stroger would do the same "wonderful" job that Lisa Madigan, the daughter of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, has done as Illinois Attorney General.

Well, she's certainly a role model.

Coming To Terms
"When asked if his father was in good enough shape to finish his term when he's not well enough to run in the election," the Tribune reported, "Todd Stroger said, 'I don't know the answer to that question. I think that if he can finish his term, then so be it.'"

So he'll be in the office on Monday?

Daley Double
"It is unclear who would take Todd Stroger's place as 8th ward alderman," the Defender reports, "but Stroger said it will be someone who knows city government and who the people can trust."

But he stopped short of revealing whose kid it will be.

Beavers Bluff?
The Tribune report also says that Beavers told reporters "there's enough votes" lined up among the Democratic committeemen for Todd Stroger. "But when asked if he had the votes already lined up for Todd Stroger, Beavers said, 'We're working on that right now, OK?'"