Chicago - A message from the station manager

The [Thursday] Papers

By Steve Rhodes

I’ll be on WBEZ today sometime between 2 and 2:30 talking about the wankfest that is Time magazine’s cover story on Rahm.
Now that that’s over . . . some post-show commentary!


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This was my initial response to WBEZ’s query, after reading an embargoed version of the story:
“Hey, I’d really love to take on this tool but I’m not feeling well today, haven’t written a column, brain is foggy. But I would just remind him that it was Jay Carney, now Obama spox, who once, among others, wrote so lovingly about Daley . . . now Daley didn’t make the tough choices and Rahm has to rescue the city? Just nonsense. Also, Rahm hasn’t mellowed a bit. When I reported my city council story for Chicago magazine, I heard story after story about him terrorizing people, literally grabbing them and getting within inches of their faces and shouting fuck this and fuck that. And as far as a wonk goes, the piece I did for Crain’s merely sampled his pattern of making ‘facts’ up that are easily debunked, from speed camera and red camera stats to the myraid of falsehoods told about the schools . . . he’s also violated his own pledges of transparency and TIF reform, and continues to dole out big bucks to his corporate pals while closing mental health clinics, social services and schools in poor neighborhoods. What a guy. He probably sought this story as part of his post-school closing image rehab and Time complied. Just a total wank.”
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Then, after deciding I would do the show because it just got my blood boiling and kind of woke me out of my coma, I added some notes and went into battle with this:
“it was Jay Carney, now Obama spox, who once, among others, wrote so lovingly about Daley . . . from the clips: Mr. Clean: Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley will not be displeased with a 15-minute profile to air on CNN at 7 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday. Done by Time reporter Jay Carney, the piece is mostly a paean to a man they call a “bricks-and-mortar” mayor who ‘oversees the city like Mayberry.’ 1999
“wonk vs. hack: HE WAS A CONGRESSMAN!
“never said he wanted to be mayor.
“why are people mad? making him heroic for that, like he’s so tough being unpopular.
“now Daley didn’t make the tough choices and Rahm has to rescue the city? Just nonsense.
“Also, Rahm hasn’t mellowed a bit. When I reported my city council story for Chicago magazine, I heard story after story about him terrorizing people, literally grabbing them and getting within inches of their faces and shouting fuck this and fuck that.
“And as far as a wonk goes, the piece I did for Crain’s merely sampled his pattern of making “facts” up that are easily debunked, from speed camera and red camera stats to the myraid of falsehoods told about the schools . . .
“he’s also violated his own pledges of transparency and TIF reform, and continues to dole out big bucks to his corporate pals while closing mental health clinics, social services and schools in poor neighborhoods. What a guy. He probably sought this story as part of his post-school closing image rehab and Time complied. Just a total wank.
“caught falsely saying CTA cuts wouldn’t hurt poor more … parking meter lease nonsense.
“charter performance, class size, utilization rates, how many fewer CPS kids in last 10 years
“also stiffs local reporters, who would know what questions to ask, which is classic.
“OUT OF TOWN STUPID, as the guys on The Score say. But purposely so. That’s the narrative.
“when i tried to get a Rahm interview for Chicago magazine, his deputy Tom Alexander asked, Is it a cover story?”
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You never get to say what you want on TV and radio. There’s just not enough time, and you’re not controlling the conversation. That’s why I need my own show. Including musical guests.
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I’ll add that I highly doubt Rahm didn’t want to be on the cover of Time.
And as for the last comment that closing 50 schools in one fell swoop is hardly the status quo, well, I said he’s following Daley’s same policies only more dramatically. Daley would simply take five years to close 50 schools.
(And as long as Von Drehle mentioned Duncan, is that to say, then, that Rahm, as chief of staff, thought that Obama had named as secretary education someone who had failed Chicago’s children?)
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Elsewhere:
* Goodbye Wings, Hello Kings.
* Chicagoetry: Elegy for a Sign Painter.
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The Beachwood Tip Line: Non-wankable.

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Posted on May 30, 2013