(Chicago Alderman) Natarus collapses on City Council floor (after anti-war speech)

Chicago Tribune ^ | September 14, 2005, 2:16 PM CDT | Gary Washburn

[Chi-townChief]

Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd) collapsed on the City Council floor this afternoon after delivering a speech in favor of a resolution calling for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq.

The 72-year-old alderman was standing near one of the exit doors to the City Council chamber, on the 2nd floor of City Hall, about 1:25 p.m. during the council's regular meeting.

Ald. Virginia A. Rugai (19th) had just started to speak when another alderman got the chairman's attention by yelling, "Call 911!"

A recess was called and proceedings came to an immediate halt as Natarus' colleagues ran to him. An aide dashed out of the room to get a defibrillator. --- Before he collapsed, the alderman stood near his desk toward the rear of the council chamber, speaking in his typical strong voice.

He said the issue of getting out of Iraq was probably "something that should be debated in the Congress of the United States," but added it was important the nation's cities were taking a position, and expressed hope Washington would listen.

Though Natarus initially supported U.S. military action in Iraq because of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, he said the idea of imposing a certain type of government on the country did not make sense.

"We want to go all over the world and make every country like us," he said.

[Chi-townChief]

CHICAGOLAND PING

[Pyro7480]

Karl Rove gave him the Zot?

[MeanWestTexan]

I am surprised he managed to stay up so long without a functioning brain.

[atomicpossum]

Did his speech include the line "And if I'm wrong, let God strike me down?"

[danneskjold]

Ald. Virginia A. Rugai (19th) had just started to speak when another alderman got the chairman's attention by yelling, "Call 911!"

Hmm...

[dfwgator]

I wonder if he got the George Carlin "Two-Minute Warning," so he could conclude his speech with "And if I'm wrong, may God strike me down dead."

[Patrick1]

Reminds me of Caddyshack.

[CSM]

2005-72=1933. Seems he might not have been paying attention to events while he was young.

[MarkeyD]

Did he ever find his lost dog?

[tom paine 2]

Burt is a whack job and local color in Chicago. his district is the River North area, which is also full of libs.

[Mikey_1962]

Obviously a foreign policy discussion is very important at City Council meetings..... jeez

[aynrandfreak]

It's symbolic of how they are destroying themselves with their anti-American rhetoric.

[Lekker 1]

"We want to go all over the world and make every country like us,"...the democratically-elected representative of the people said. Someone should remind this demented idiot that the Iraqi constitution is very little like ours. I wonder what type of government HE would suggest for them.

[Chi-townChief]

Naturus is one of the bigger blowhards in the Windy City.

[TexasCajun]

Hey Chief,

On a different subject.

Has there been any comparison in your local media about Hurricane Katrina's federal response and the federal response to the heat wave of 1995 that killed over 700 people there?

[Tenacious 1]

Bush killed him? Bush's fault?

Come on. Ya'll are getting slow.

[weeder]

I hope he survives................but if he doesn't, it shouldn't affect his ability to vote.

[kinsman redeemer]

unstated reason PING