Chicago -
By Steve Rhodes
“State Comptroller Dan Hynes said the legislation would help eliminate the ‘perception that our government is for sale and that politicians are corrupt.”
Story next to that: “State Lawmakers Set For Another Hefty Pay Raise.” To the tune of $7,000. And get this: the governor would see his salary go up by $22,000.
Posted on May 1, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
“Obama’s relationship with Wright first became an issue in the campaign in mid-March when a video of inflammatory sound bites from the minister’s sermons circulated and was widely broadcast,” the Tribune reports today.
Well, not really.
From Bob Somerby at The Daily Howler:
“What follows is part of the Rolling Stone profile which led Obama, at the last minute, to drop Wright from a public role in his February 2007 kick-off speech. The piece was written by Ben Wallace-Wells:
Posted on April 30, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
UPDATE 1:52 P.M.: Geez, I fell asleep for awhile and woke up to what I think was Barack Obama making a total break with Jeremiah Wright. “The person I saw yesterday is not the person I met 20 years ago,” he said. That claim will be tested, but . . . wow. CNN will replay Obama’s remarks in their entirety at 2 p.m.
*
Plus, our very own Tim Willette reports from the campaign trail:
“McCain Seeks Tax Credit To Help Buy Health Insurance”
– AP – 37 minutes ago
He doesn’t already have health insurance? Maybe Medicaid expires after a certain age.
*
Sigh. You know, I haven’t really written about Jeremiah Wright, and I was really trying not to, but here are a few thoughts.
* I don’t much care about even the crazier things Wright says. This shouldn’t be about Wright, it should be about Obama. But it’s not about whether Obama shares Wright’s views; that’s looking in the wrong direction. (I’ll get to what I think is the right direction shortly.)
* I also don’t think this has anything to do with showing that Obama is not a unifier because some of Wright’s statements are divisive. In fact, I think that’s baloney. I think Obama is not a unifier because he has no genuine political track record proving he is, just a record that’s been spun like cotton candy. But his church has nothing to do with it.
* I think Wright is obviously wrong when he says this whole imbroglio is an attack on the black church, but again, this isn’t about Wright.
Posted on April 29, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
“Wm. Wrigley Jr. Cos., in a move it said will provide ‘enhanced prospects for growth,’ confirmed this morning that it has agreed to be acquired by privately held candy-industry giant Mars Inc. for $80 a share, or $23 billion,” the Tribune reports.
Which joke will get more play, Mars Field or Snickers Stadium?
*
Here’s an idea: Mars should buy the Cubs too.
Kosuke Fukudome’s at-bat taking too long? Have a Snicker’s!
Posted on April 28, 2008
By Natasha Julius
We have a feeling we’ll go undrafted again this weekend, so that should leave plenty of time to watch the key stories.
Market Update
Apparently, it’s our fault the dollar’s in the shitter. We’re just not thinking enough happy thoughts. Come on, people! Let’s all take our government allowance and go buy some freakin’ optimism!
Posted on April 26, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
I’ll be on Eight Forty Eight’s Month in Review panel this morning on WBEZ. See my post at Division Street for my picks in the various categories we are likely to discuss.
I may put up a fresh Papers column up on my return, or I may just post at Division Street the rest of the day, I just don’t know. It’s early and I haven’t had any coffee yet. Bear with me.
We do have great new material today on the rest of the site. Check it out ->>>
Posted on April 25, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
1. “It’s pretty stunning stuff.”
– Former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins on the latest bombshell to come out of the Rezko trial, on Chicago Tonight last night
2. “Take care of the U.S. attorney? That’s so Illinois Combine, isn’t it?”
– John Kass, who’s been right all along
3. So it was a tree trimmer!
Posted on April 24, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
I’ll be on NBC5 this morning at (ugh!) 6:50 a. m., and then I’ll be taking live Internet chat questions until 8. Just go to NBC5.com and you should see what to do.
Upon my return to Beachwood HQ, I’m more likely to do some blogging at Division Street than turn out a Papers column. So visit me there today – but before you do, take a look at Today’s Beachwood ->>>
The [Tuesday] Papers
* Use CTA Google Maps to plan your evacuation route!
* I don’t think Mayor Daley is in a great position to preach about knowing where your kids are.
* Tribune: “Clinton Hits Hard At Finish”
Sun-Times:”On Eve Of Pa. Primary, A Kinder, Gentler Clinton”
Posted on April 23, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
* Use CTA Google Maps to plan your evacuation route!
* I don’t think Mayor Daley is in a great position to preach about knowing where your kids are.
* Tribune: “Clinton Hits Hard At Finish”
Sun-Times:”On Eve Of Pa. Primary, A Kinder, Gentler Clinton”
Posted on April 22, 2008
By Steve Rhodes
Just to review:
“A massive rock formation 7 miles below West Salem, Ill., moved just an inch or so at 4:36 a.m. Friday, but that was enough to cause the 5.2 magnitude earthquake that broke windows and cracked walls near the epicenter, shook Chicagoans in their beds and sent shock waves that people felt as far away as Kansas and West Virginia.”
A massive rock formation 7 miles below West Salem, Ill., moved an inch, and the result was a 5.2 magnitude earthquake felt as far away as Kansas and West Virginia.
It’s a weird world.
Posted on April 21, 2008
