McHenry County Blog

The Chicago Tribune’s memory is getting better.

In yesterday’s article on the race to replace White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel, Tribune reporters Don Mihalopoulos and John McCormick emphasize the fact that Emanuel won in 2002 only with the help of patronage workers from the Hired Truck Scandal gang.

That’s when he beat State Rep. Nancy Kaszak.

It was so blatant that the U.S. Attorney mentioned the intervention in a footnote in the plea agreement of Water Department’s Director of Finance and Administration Gerald Wesolowski. He was Donald Tomczak’s bag man.

Candidates assisted include

“Jeff Tomczak, mayoral candidate Richard Daley, judicial candidate Amy Bertani, United States congressional candidate Rahm Emanuel and others,”

the U.S. Attorney’s court filing read.

The Tribune did not remember this rather relevant fact in its puff piece, front page Sunday Magazine article November 12, 2006.

And, just in time to help the independent candidates, the United States Supreme Court has turned down Mayor Richard Daley patronage chief Richard Sorich’s appeal of his conviction for illegal hiring of patronage workers.

Building bridges.

That’s what it seemed to be about after Barack Obama was sworn in as president.

After Obama was sworn in, he and his wife Michelle took their leave with Laura and George W. Bush on the Capitol steps.

As the Bush entourage took off in their helicopter, the new president, vice president and their wives waved good-bye.

Obama’s chosen hatchet man Rahm Emanuel smiled and shock hands with the fallen Republican standard bearer John McCain.

The Era of Good Will will continue until those of us on the losing side of the presidential election read of the Executive Orders that Obama will quickly sign.

Building bridges.

That’s what it seemed to be about after Barack Obama was sworn in as president.

After Obama was sworn in, he and his wife Michelle took their leave with Laura and George W. Bush on the Capitol steps.

As the Bush entourage took off in their helicopter, the new president, vice president and their wives waved good-bye.

Obama’s chosen hatchet man Rahm Emanuel smiled and shock hands with the fallen Republican standard bearer John McCain.

The Era of Good Will will continue until those of us on the losing side of the presidential election read of the Executive Orders that Obama will quickly sign.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Rod Blagojevich’s successor as congressman, Rahm Emanuel, is the President-elect Barack Obama staffer mentioned in the criminal complaint that led to the Governor’s arrest who talked with the governor’s office about Obama’s U.S. Senate replacement.

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Image is from January 5, 2007, Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune reports that Rod Blagojevich’s successor as congressman, Rahm Emanuel, is the President-elect Barack Obama staffer mentioned in the criminal complaint that led to the Governor’s arrest who talked with the governor’s office about Obama’s U.S. Senate replacement.

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Image is from January 5, 2007, Chicago Tribune

I wish someone had told me.

Who would have thought that the front page of a newspaper would be a collector’s item?

Maybe I could have sold mine to some “collector.”

Instead of tossing it in the recycling bin.

It was folded and stuffed in a plastic sleeve.

That makes it less valuable, I guess.

Think my not saving the edition will get me on Rahm Emanuel’s Enemies List?

I wish someone had told me.

Who would have thought that the front page of a newspaper would be a collector’s item?

Maybe I could have sold mine to some “collector.”

Instead of tossing it in the recycling bin.

It was folded and stuffed in a plastic sleeve.

That makes it less valuable, I guess.

Think my not saving the edition will get me on Rahm Emanuel’s Enemies List?

If Rahm Emanuel is going to be President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, can the removal of Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald be far behind?

Fitzgerald, of course, had the audacity to put in a court document that Hired Truck guys helped Emanuel win his 2002 primary election campaign against reform State Rep. Nancy Kazak.

And, Emanuel holds grudges.

Getting even and helping the Bi-partisan Combine avoid more indictments for the endemic corruption in Illinois means Fitzgerald has to go.

How to do it?

That is the question.

Some have suggested Fitzgerald could be named Attorney General.

Hey, that would do the trick.

Then, senior U.S. Senator Dick Durbin can pick a “safe,” yet respectable replacement who will not continue to play the role of Elliot Ness.

If Rahm Emanuel is going to be President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, can the removal of Chicago U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald be far behind?

Fitzgerald, of course, had the audacity to put in a court document that Hired Truck guys helped Emanuel win his 2002 primary election campaign against reform State Rep. Nancy Kazak.

And, Emanuel holds grudges.

Getting even and helping the Bi-partisan Combine avoid more indictments for the endemic corruption in Illinois means Fitzgerald has to go.

How to do it?

That is the question.

Some have suggested Fitzgerald could be named Attorney General.

Hey, that would do the trick.

Then, senior U.S. Senator Dick Durbin can pick a “safe,” yet respectable replacement who will not continue to play the role of Elliot Ness.