[Blago]Scandal is a slap for Chicagoans after Obama euphoria

The International Herald Tribune ^ | December 11, 2008 | Dirk Johnson

[2ndDivisionVet]

CHICAGO: For Jeff Makowski, a 47-year-old house painter, it had been fun lately to boast to out-of-town friends about Chicago as the home of President-elect Barack Obama.

Now the phone calls are coming the other way, and they are often sarcastic.

"We're a national laughingstock," said Makowski, who was drinking a beer with a work pal on Wednesday afternoon after finishing work on a North Side condominium. "They call up and say, 'What's going on in Illinois? How can you elect these people?"'

Last month, Chicago erected huge banners along Michigan Avenue bearing the image of its hometown hero, Obama, and "our city just beamed," as Peggy Smith, a 53-year-old nurse, put it.

To Makowski and others, the election of Obama had shown the world that Chicago had produced a brilliant politician, a president with the historic purpose of Lincoln - a home-state fellow, of course - and the style of a Kennedy.

But it was a short-lived burst of civic pride that sparkled on Election Night like never before. The arrest on Tuesday of Governor Rod Blagojevich has resurrected the corrupt image of politics in this city and state. The state's previous governor, George Ryan, is in prison on corruption charges, only the latest of a string of Illinois executives to go to jail in the last century.

"In Chicago, we had just gotten past the old stereotypes," Makowski said. "But now we're back to the jokes. You go anywhere and you hear that 'Oh, you guys are from Chicago' business. And then they just laugh at you."

His pal, Dan Frohling, 42, took a swig of his beer and shook his head. "It's a blemish for us," he said. "It's depressing."

For Bruce Hansfurther, a 51-year-old lawyer, it is difficult to be surprised anymore.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Merry Fitzmas, Chicagoland!

[Farmer Dean]

I’ve got some news for Jeff-your city has been a laughingstock for years,he’s just not smart enough to have figured that out.

[kbennkc]

I started to call my cousins in Chicago to ask them how they could elect such people , then I remembered they still remember my senior Senator is Larry Craig . Egad it is like being muzzled .

[PGR88]

Daley, Rezko, Jackson, Ayers, Wright - and suddenly they feel ashamed because of Blogo?

[Army Air Corps]

Embarrassed? Stop electing criminals and thugs.

[The KG9 Kid]

Chicaglol!

[Perdogg]

I’ll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie

[RobinOfKingston]

... the election of Obama had shown the world that Chicago had produced a brilliant politician, who will likely turn out to be no different than the rest of "brilliant politicians" Chicago is known to produce.

[bigbob]

Buncha wimps...next time somebody laughs at you, just send a guy over to break their legs...

[Parley Baer]

They don’t call it Crook County for nothing.

[john in springfield]

Obama didn’t even make it to the electoral college before it began to dawn on American that they’d been had.

[Smokeyblue]

And yet they ALL voted for Blago (some still defending him)and Obama. Good gracious they are dumb.

[4Speed]

As long as we say Chicago, and not Illinois. Downstate Illinois does not approve or participate in Chicago style Politics.
I worked in Springfield Illinois for years, was there when Blagojavich was elected for his First Term. Even then the Democrats themselves predicted looting and Expensing Tax Dollars for Personal Gain. A prediction I was skeptical of, but little did an out of towner know about how Chicago Democrats work when they get control.
It’s Hercules unchained.
SEIU state workers retire on the Job. They have nothing to do in the overstaffed office, except play games and dare anyone to ask them to do work. I know. I’ve seen it. It isn’t pretty.
UAW equals SEIU, The unions first job is to see that no Union people lose their jobs, NO MATTER WHAT.

[kb2614]

Why would it be considered a slap in the face for Chicagoans?? They keep electing these graft ridden, corrupt, scum sucking parasites into office. Seems to me its what electorate of Chicago wants.

[BenLurkin]

They do know Obama is dirty.

Don’t they?

[Zevonismymuse]

For I know that the hypnotized never lie

Great song...it would be great if I could select the song Obama uses at the Inaugaration they way the Clintons used 'Don't Stop Thnking About Tomorrow'. Maybe Obama will use 'Born In The USA' as their theme song.

[Buddygirl]

I had been laughing at the situation in Illinois since I learned that Blago refused to step down. Know who he reminds me of? Clinton and Blago is pulling a Clinton trick on the people of Illinois... Too bad that the people in the country has to suffer with the stupid Democrats in the cities!

[mccainvoterinobamaville]

I live 3 blocks from the northwest border of Chicago and we don’t practice Chicago politics.

Bill Clinton did not win Hillary’s hometown in 92 or 96.

[Chgogal]

Most Chicagoans as well as 62 million other fellow Americans who voted for Obama are brain dead. Yup, you Obamabots voted and put the Chicago Machine into the White House. Idiots, each and everyone of you and you should be ashamed of being so gullible and misinformed. This supposed Harvard genius who has slummed with the most virulent Anti-Americans available to him will in 6 weeks be in control of the country's nuclear football, its economy, its foreign affairs and its defense. My fellow Americans your vote on November 4, 2008 will prove to by your most irresponsible decision, a decision that you will deeply regret. Now the rest of us Americans are going to have to suck it up and endure your stupidity and hope we survive until the next presidential election. Oh, and to paraphrase my Rabid Democratic friends, Chicago will be missing a few idiots come January 20, 2009 to the detriment of this nation.

[unkus]

**Obama didn’t even make it to the electoral college before it began to dawn on American that they’d been had.**

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This guy has all the makings of a train wreck waiting to happen before it leaves the station. And, we're the passengers.