By Steve Rhodes

“I’ve been watching with more than a little interest the controversial statements about Israel and the Israel lobby by Ilhan Omar, a freshman Democratic congresswoman from the Fifth District of Minnesota, because it turns out that we have a lot in common – up to a point,” Thomas Friedman writes for the New York Times.
“The first thing we have in common is that I was raised in the Fifth District of Minnesota, specifically the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park. I lived there until I was 20. It was a freaky place – a crazy mix of Minnesota Jews (we called ourselves ‘the Frozen Chosen”) and Scandinavians that produced a uniquely tolerant civic culture and an interesting group of neighbors: Al Franken, the Coen brothers, Peggy Orenstein, Norm Ornstein, Michael Sandel, Sharon Isbin, Marc Trestman and lots of others you can find on the St. Louis Park Wikipedia page. Our little town was immortalized in the Coen brothers’ 2009 movie A Serious Man.”
My uncle, Jim, was a Republican who represented a liberal St. Louis Park district in the Minnesota legislature for six terms. When he finally lost his seat in 2004, AP described him as “part of a shrinking group of moderate voices at the Capitol.”

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Posted on March 7, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

I had a fun night last night, and there’s a connection to Monday’s column, so I’m going to tell whoever cares to read this about it.
I have a high school friend, Mike – actually met him in 8th grade, which was junior high back in our suburban Bloomington, Minnesota school district – who has lived in Evanston (and Chicago before that) for just about as long as I’ve been here. Maybe longer!
I also have a college friend, Chris, who moved to Evanston within months of me moving to Chicago.
It was all coming together!

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Posted on March 6, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

I’ve basically been sleeping since Thursday. I don’t know why.
I had mono when I was a college sophomore, so it’s not that. (Or is it?)
I actually recall having mono with fondness. It’s a fun, little story.

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Posted on March 4, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

I’m a bit worn out. I’m gonna take the rest of the day off.

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Posted on February 28, 2019

This is the first of a thread, so click through, please.

While Rahm is on his free media ride victory tour, last night remind us that he was chased out of office as a decidedly unpopular failure who wouldn't have even seen a second term – which he almost didn't see anyway – if he hadn't buried the Laquan McDonald tape. #ChicagoElection

— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) February 27, 2019

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Posted on February 27, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

The action will be on Twitter today, so head over to @BeachwoodReport.
But there’s this:

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Posted on February 26, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

“Bill Daley walked into the crowded sanctuary at the Indiana Avenue Pentecostal Church of God on Sunday afternoon and received the blessing of the Bronzeville congregation – literally,” the Tribune reports.
“The elderly Bishop Charles E. Davis slowly rose from his seat as Daley approached the blue carpeted stage and was encircled by the pastor and more than a dozen church elders who put their hands on the 70-year-old politician’s shoulders as he bowed his head.
“‘Bless us, God, with what is going on today. You know what Chicago needs,’ Davis said as some in the historic African-American congregation raised their hands in the air. ‘We ask you to empower this man here and that when he is elected, he will not forget that he has earned something to please you for your people and the city of Chicago. Bless him with the wisdom and knowledge to carry on for this great city. Hallelujah!'”

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Posted on February 25, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

For completists, there was no column on Friday.
“Chicago is heading into what could be one of its most unpredictable mayoral elections ever,” the Sun-Times reports.
“Not only is it anyone’s guess which two candidates will wind up in the expected runoff, but it’s not even clear when we will know which two get to advance to that second round.

“I’ve never had anything like this before. It’s kind of like the Super Bowl,” 47th Ward Democratic Committeeman Paul Rosenfeld said of the wide open races for mayor, city treasurer and his ward’s City Council seat.

How is it like the Super Bowl? The Super Bowl features just two teams whose identities are clearly known. It’s actually nothing like the Super Bowl.

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Posted on February 23, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

It’s a sprint from here to Election Day next Tuesday as I attempt to empty my digital notebooks into a series of posts on each of the major candidates and other campaign-related issues. No promises, but I’m trying.
In the meantime . . .

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Posted on February 21, 2019

By Steve Rhodes

A second set of five mayoral candidates took part in a Chicago Tonight forum Tuesday night, following a similar debate with five others on Monday night.
“The mayoral hopefuls took stabs at ideas for working around an often dicey relationship between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police to reform a Chicago Police Department that is grudgingly moving toward correcting years of civil rights abuse accusations,” the Sun-Times reports.

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Posted on February 20, 2019