Posted on 01/27/2011 6:02:16 PM PST by americanophile
Before Thursday’s dramatic ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court to keep Rahm Emanuel on the mayoral ballot, much of the chatter in local politics centered on one of the court’s seven justices, Anne M. Burke, and the political relationship between her husband and a key opponent of Mr. Emanuel.
But she was not the only one in the residency saga with complicated ties. When Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride studied the legal briefs in the case, the name of one lawyer involved in the residency dispute should have been familiar: Michael J. Kasper.
Mr. Kasper, the election-law specialist for Mr. Emanuel and for the state Democratic Party, offered his free expertise to Chief Justice Kilbride’s successful Democratic campaign last year to remain on the state’s highest court, the chief justice’s campaign manager said.
Every step in the process of determining whether a politician’s name will appear on the ballot — from the Chicago election board to the state’s top court — is steeped in the baroque swirl of connections between local power brokers. For Mr. Emanuel, some of those ties could create the perception that he was favored as much as he was harmed during his roller-coaster fight to be a candidate in the Feb. 22 election.
Justice Burke indicated she would not recuse herself from the case despite the fact that her powerful husband, Alderman Edward M. Burke (14th Ward), is a supporter of Gery Chico — whose own campaign for mayor would have benefited significantly from Mr. Emanuel’s ouster. In fact, she joined in the 7-to-0 decision in favor of Mr. Emanuel.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Swirl of CORRUPTION
....Chicago, and Illinois at large, are hoplessly impaled by the spear of corruption........resistance is futile........they have been assimilated....
Why is city politics in the national news and carried by the New York Times?
Because it is the home of POTUS, his former Chief of staff running for mayor and it’s one of our largest cities....
Do you think that the mayoral race in Albequerque would make it?......
The NY Times has to weigh in on the Chicago Mayoral fight because they feel poor Rahm Emmanuel’s pain. He is being victimized by the Chicago Mafia! Who’d a thunk it?
Oh...my...Lord. Chicago politics are soooo corrupt. I am so glad I no longer live there!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.